Sibelius S Symphonies Tickets

Jean Sibelius was a romantic composer, who gained fame in the late twentieth century. Often considered as the master of modernism in compositional ingenuity, Sibelius' magnum opuses are his symphonies. Throughout his career, nationalism played an important part in his outlook and his compositional work. Sibelius' repertory is filled with themes of Romantic Nationalism, anti-modernism and post-modernism and he has worked extensively on the development of the national identity and culture of his county.

When he was a teenager, Sibelius took up the pursuit of music and started taking violin and the piano lessona. There are speculations that around 1880's, Sibelius composed his first piece of music. He formed a band with his siblings and composed music for them to play. 1882 marked his enrollment in a music school, where his violin instructor, Mitrofan Wasiljeff, dubbed him a "musical genius." Soon, his passion turned into a career and in as early as 1886, he started performing as a solo artist.

There are seven highly acclaimed symphonies of Sibelius that have set his status as a composer extraordinaire in stone. The first symphony was presented in 1899. Based on four movements, the symphony inspires an exhaustive spectrum of emotions in the audience. While the 1899 version gave Sibelius plenty of fame and recognition, it was the revised version in 1900 that made Sibelius rise to worldwide prominence. From Hamburg to Paris, the symphony was applauded for its originality and the passion that it exuberated. Its first published review recorded that the symphony was a work of "unrestrained strength," "astonishing audacity," and Ferdinand Pfol, (a critic of that time), wrote that the work stands out "like an intoxicated god." Drawing on the themes of the Romantic Movement, the first symphony was hailed as a celebration of Finland, and of the composer's attachments to his roots. 

Building on the first, the second symphony was revealed in 1902. Themes of violence, peace and heroism emanated from the symphony. Given the political situation of the time, the courage and strength that it stirred in the people cemented Sibelius' position as a national figure. Noted conductor, Osmo Vanska, is quoted to have said that "the second symphony is connected with our nation's fight for independence." At a time in the country's history, when despair was abundant, Sibelius gave his people hope.

While the first two symphonies were built upon more modern compositional techniques such as violent crescendos and sudden drops, the third was more classical in its style. The symphony debuted in 1907, and the music followed three movements rather than the previous four-movement format. This symphony is unique in its own right, and Sibelius himself labeled parts of the piece as "chaotic." Jukka-Pekka Saraste, a conductor, said that the feat of the symphony lies in the fact that it gives innovation to the traditional techniques of composition. Four years later, in 1911, the fourth symphony was conducted again. Today, it is considered as the composer's best work.

Between 1919 and 1924, Sibelius composed symphonies five through seven. He was already an established national hero by this point, and his work had gained international fame. The last three symphonies are hailed for their creative movements and for the emotions that they inspire in the listeners. All seven of the symphonies are a fitting example of Sibelius' musical orientation and his compositional abilities. His work shows influences drawn from Wagner and Tchaikovsky. However, despite the similarities, Sibelius' work is distinct in its structure. A composer that every classical music enthusiasts and aficionado should listen to, Sibelius's Symphonies tickets are now available for the performances of this season.