The position of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) as Finland’s national composer is probably incontestable; his significance for the history of Finnish music is unparalleled. Sibelius is also Finland’s most famous composer internationally, whose music has won admirers in all parts of the globe. With its annual Sibelius Festival, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra aims to gather together Sibelius’s friends from all over the world and to offer them a truly memorable weekend in the company of Sibelius’s music. 

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The 10th International Lahti Sibelius Festival will be held on 10th-13th September 2009

The Lahti Symphony Orchestra’s 10th International Sibelius Festival will be held at the Sibelius Hall on 10th-13th September 2009 conducted by its artistic director, Jukka-Pekka Saraste. The theme of the festival is ‘Sibelius – Towards Europe’, and the programme consists of works from Sibelius’s middle period. During the festival there are three orchestral concerts (10th-12th September), two chamber music concerts (12th and 13th September) and other Sibelius-themed activites.

Saraste: ‘In the programme you can see Sibelius’s views widening towards Europe’

‘In my opinion, in Sibelius’s output, the Second Symphony is already a clear departure from Finnish national provinciality and therefore an internationally oriented work’, says Jukka-Pekka Saraste about the festival programme of 2009, and continues: ‘The theme of the festival “Towards Europe” describes Sibelius’s views widening towards different parts of Europe.’ Saraste adds: ‘The energy and rapid pulse of the Third Symphony points in the direction of the English way of life, and in the Fourth Symphony you can clearly notice the influence of Schoenberg in the form of a Germanic formal conception and disappearing tonality. On the other hand, in the orchestration of Pohjola’s Daughter we approach a French-style timbre with cornets and harp.’ Saraste recognizes the overall influence of Wagner in the output of composers of this period. ‘When it comes to Sibelius, his situation is exceptionally fortuitous, as – unlike many of his colleagues – he didn’t remain in the influence of Wagner, but managed to find his own original voice.’

The programmes of the orchestral concerts

In the programme of the opening concert on Thursday 10th September 2009 are Sibelius’s Second Symphony, Scene with Cranes and Luonnotar with other orchestral songs sung by the prominent young Finnish soprano Helena Juntunen. The soloist in Sibelius’s Violin Concerto on Friday 11th September 2009 is the Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud, who plays regularly with many of the world’s leading orchestras. The concert also includes the tone poem The Dryad and the Third Symphony. The programme of the concert on Saturday 12th September 2009 consists of the Fourth Symphony, and the tone poems Pohjola’s Daughter, The Bard, The Oceanides and Night Ride and Sunrise.

Ticket sales will commence on 5th January 2009 for single tickets; group sales and advance reservations will begin in the autumn of 2008. Enquiries: Lahti Symphony Orchestra group sales telephone: +358 3 814 4460. e-mail: sinfonialahti@lahti.fi

Thu 10.9.2009 at 7pm Sibelius Hall

Scene with Cranes
Luonnotar
En blomma stod vid vägen
Kvarnhjulet
Maj
Symphony No. 2

Helena Juntunen, soprano

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Fri 11.9.2009 at 7pm Sibelius Hall

The Dryad
Violin Concerto
Symphony No. 3

Henning Kraggerud, violin

Pre-Concert talk at 5:45pm, Carpenters Workshop
"Cursed and lovely Violin Concerto". Sibelius-researcher,
                            docent Timo Virtanen and violinist Jaakko Ilves. (in Finnish)
                            In collaboration with the Sibelius Hall

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Sat 12.9.2009 at 5pm Sibelius Hall

Pohjola's Daughter
The Oceanides
Night Ride and Sunrise
The Bard
Symphony No. 4

Pre-Concert talk at 4pm, Carpenters Workshop
Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Tuomas Kinberg (in English)
In collaboration with the Sibelius Hall

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Chamber Music Concerts:

Saturday 12th September at 1 p.m.
Kalevi Aho Hall, Lahti Music Institute, Hämeenkatu 4
Sibelius’s Music for Piano
Paavali Jumppanen, piano

Kyllikki, Op. 41, (3 Lyric Pieces on subjects from the Kalevala)(1904)
Three Sonatinas, Op. 67 (1912)
10 Pieces, Op. 58 (1909)

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Sunday 13th September at 11 a.m. Sibelius Hall
Sibelius on a Sunday Morning

Malinconia for Cello and Piano, Op. 20
Six Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 79
Two Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 2
Four Pieces for Cello and Piano, Op. 78
Sonatine in E major for Violin and Piano, Op. 80

Jaakko Kuusisto, violin
Tuomas Ylinen, cello
Paavali Jumppanen, piano

In collaboration with the Sibelius Hall

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