大象传媒

Twenty-five years separate Sibelius's Second and Seventh symphonies, but that hardly hints at the growth in his musical style: No 2 rich, romantic and the work that sealed his international reputation; No 7 a powerful study, in one movement, of organic musical growth. Together, they conclude Sakari Oramo's Sibelius symphony cycle with the 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican in the 2017-18 season. Luonnotar (1913) from mid-way between the two is a magical creation-story for soprano and orchestra and finds Anu Komsi the soloist - in a work premiered in Gloucester. no less! Aarre Merikanto's Ekho (1922), a perfect, beautiful work makes an ideal partner to Luonnotar - and Komsi is a superb exponent of this vocally taxing score, having already made a magnificent recording of the piece.

Recorded at the Barbican Hall on Saturday 6th January 2018
Presented by Martin Handley

Sibelius: Symphony No 7 in C, Op 105
Sibelius: Luonnotar Op 70 *

8.10
Interval. Martin Handley talks to Sibelius expert Leah Broad of Oxford University, and discusses, with illustrations, Sibelius's Scaramouche

8.35
Aarre Merikanto: Ekho*
Sibelius: Symphony No 2 in D, Op 43

Anu Komsi (soprano)
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo (conductor)