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A Warning from Above

Donald Macleod considers the effect of poverty and ill-health on Sibelius's music.

Years of heavy drinking had taken a toll on the health of Sibelius, to the extent that at the age of only 39, he had tremors in his hands. He was persuaded to move out of the city to a house in the countryside. But word had got around that he was in poor health and people who had funded him in the past turned their backs. Donald Macleod explores the music composed by Sibelius in this period, when, with health problems becoming more acute, the composer receives a "warning from above".

58 minutes

Music Played

  • Jean Sibelius

    Valse Triste

    Performer; Hallé Orchestra Performer: John Barbirolli

    • EMI 7 69205 2.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Pohjola's Daughter

    Performer: New York Philharmonic Performer: Leonard Bernstein

    • CBS 44720.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Night Ride and Sunrise

    Performer: Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Performer: Neeme Järvi

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony no 4 - Mvts 1 & 2

    Performer: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Performer: Pietari Inkinen

    • Naxos 8.572227.

Broadcast

  • Thu 22 Aug 2013 18:00

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