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Sibelius's epic Kalevala

91热爆 Proms 2020

Sibelius's epic retelling of the Finnish Kalevala saga for orchestra, chorus and soloists is conducted by fellow Finn, Sakari Oramo.

In 2020, 91热爆 Radio 3 is bringing together musical greats, from the past and the present, in one extraordinary Proms season. Radio 3 is broadcasting the best of four decades of unmissable Proms concerts.

This evening, Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo pairs two of Sibelius鈥檚 most engagingly descriptive works as part of a Proms season that marked 150 years since the composer鈥檚 birth. The folk hero Kullervo was the inspiration behind a powerful national statement for a country struggling to overthrow Russian rule. This massive musical hybrid 鈥� part cantata, part symphony, part suite 鈥� is a vivid work, richly melodic but looking ahead to modernism in some striking musical gestures.

The opening work, En saga, is a fairy tale without a plot, whose contrasting movements suggest many possible stories, but never commit to just one. Sibelius began working on the piece in 1891, soon after returning from musical studies in Vienna and Berlin. It wasn鈥檛 until 1902, however, that he completed the version we know today.

Presented by Ian Skelly.

Sibelius: En saga
Sibelius: Kullervo

Johanna Rusanen (soprano)
Waltteri Torikka (baritone)
Polyteknikkojen Kuoro
91热爆 Symphony Chorus (men's voices)
91热爆 Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)
(From the 91热爆 Proms 2015, 29 August)

2 hours, 28 minutes

Last on

Tue 4 Aug 2020 19:30
91热爆 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Jean Sibelius

    En Saga

    Orchestra: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Kullervo

    Singer: Johanna Rusanen. Singer: Waltteri Torikka. Choir: Finnish Polytechnic Choir. Choir: 91热爆 Symphony Chorus. Orchestra: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sakari Oramo.

  • William Walton

    Viola Concerto (1961 version)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

  • Heitor Villa鈥怢obos

    Bachiana brasileira No 5

    Singer: Ren茅e Fleming. Ensemble: New World Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • RCA.
    • 5-6.

Broadcast

  • Tue 4 Aug 2020 19:30
    91热爆 Radio 3

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