With his seven symphonies the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius marks a high point in the symphonic repertoire of the 20th century. The music evokes the ghostliness of the Finnish landscape, carries an inner strength and depth and proves itself full of technical finesse that still poses a challenge for both conductors and performers. For Sibelius “a symphony is not a ‘composition’ in the ordinary sense. Rather, it is a declaration of faith at different stages of one’s life.”
On the occasion of Jean Sibelius’ 150th birthday this DVD edition offers the live recordings of the composer’s seven symphonies by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in the new Helsinki Music Centre under the direction of Hannu Lintu. Each symphony is preceded by a documentary and an introduction, giving a new and modern perspective to the legendary Finnish composer and his symphonies. Subtitled in English, German, French, Japanese and Korean.