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Jean Sibelius grew to maturity at a time of fervent Finnish nationalism, as the country broke away from its earlier Swedish and later Russian overlords. Brought up in a Swedish-speaking family, Sibelius acquired a knowledge of the Finnish language and traditional literature at school and the early Finnish sagas proved a strong influence on his subsequent work as a composer.
Listen to the fine compositions of Sibelius, such as symphonic poems which were mostly inspired by ancient Finnish legends. These include En Saga, the Lemminkäinen Suite, of which “The Swan of Tuonela” and “Lemminkäinen's Return” form a part, Pohjola's Daughter and Tapiola. Also featured here are his symphonies, Violin Concerto and the well-known Karelia Suite, derived from incidental music for a pageant.
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“The excellent Naxos survey of Sibelius symphonies continues with a coupling of one of his most assertive and popular - the Fifth - with the lean austere Fourth.” |
– The Daily Telegraph on SIBELIUS: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 8.554377
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