Untitled Document
Journey with the TSO for a rare opportunity to hear the complete
symphonies of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. This ambitious
undertaking is led by guest conductor Thomas Dausgaard, a favourite with TSO audiences. The seven symphonies by Sibelius are paired with his short violin works, performed by Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto.
Enjoy an enlightening discussion 45 minutes before performances on
April 14, 17, and 22, with a Pre-Concert Chat in the lobby. Learn more
about the music at every performance during Intermission Chats in the
lobby!
Experience for yourself the wonder that is Thomas Dausgaard
- TORONTO STAR
Pekka Kuusisto may be the best thing to happen to classical music in years.
- THE GUARDIAN (UK)
The Sibelius Festival concerts will be recorded by CBC for future broadcast.
Sibelius Snapshots
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Musicians Reflections on Sibelius
Harcus Hennigar (French horn):
The first time I played a Sibelius symphony was in 1969, when I was a member of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO). I was still a high school student living in Nova Scotia, and was in Toronto for the first time. Victor Feldbrill was conducting Sibelius Symphony No. 2 and at one of the rehearsals we heard that his father had just died. At the top of the rehearsal he came to the podium and we played the entire symphony all the way through. At the end of the symphony nobody could say anything. We just sat there held by the sound in our ears and the emotion in our hearts. It was an incredibly moving experience and a musical tribute to both Victor and his father. Now whenever I play the Second Symphony I always think of that rehearsal and the powerful emotions that accompanied it.
Jin-Shan Dai (Violin):
You know – I never understood Sibelius for a long time. I liked his music, but the language always sounded strange to me. Then one cold day in January I was at a friend’s cottage on Long Lake in Michigan. We were listening to Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony, played by the Vienna Philharmonic. There was a fire in the fireplace, and looking out the window we saw a very fine snow coming down -- it almost looked like rain. As I looked at the trees, the lake and the frozen landscape, I suddenly got it. This is what Sibelius saw, and this is what he wrote into his music! I’m really looking forward to playing all seven symphonies in a short time period. For a musician, this is a great treat.
Gord Wolfe (principal trombone):
I'm really looking forward to the Sibelius Festival and, especially, the chance to be completely immersed in his music for two weeks. Sibelius has his own completely different language and this is a great opportunity to absorb and appreciate his unique contribution. For me, the best part of the Festival will be playing the Seventh Symphony, which has three beautiful trombone solos. Sibelius wrote these solos in the trombone's "muddy register" - the mid to low range from which it is really hard to project and get clarity. And to add to the challenge, the orchestration during the solos is really thick, so it can be difficult to project above the orchestral texture to hear the solo. I can't wait!
David Kent (timpani):
The Sibelius Festival is the two weeks that I am most looking forward to this season. In his music there is a Nordic, spacious feeling, while on the other hand there is also warmth and intimacy. It’s like a contrast between barren wilderness and emotional depth. Only Beethoven wrote for the timpani in the same masterful way that Sibelius does. It’s completely interwoven into the orchestral fabric and helps drives the music forward. Sibelius uses timpani rolls in such an incredibly diverse way - like nobody else had done before.
Carey Ebli (English Horn):
The older I get, the more I understand and respect Sibelius’ compositional genius. He could take a four-note motif and extract a whole symphony from this material. In spite of that, however … I still can’t forgive him for not including a part for the English horn in even one of his symphonies!
Podcasts
Listen to the first Sibelius podcast
Conductor Thomas Dausgaard talks about his fascination with the music
of Sibelius and the inner workings of these spectacular orchestral
works.
Listen to the second Sibelius podcast
Host Rick Phillips opens up the world of Sibelius and his seven symphonies.
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Festival Concerts
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Jean Sibelius
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Sibelius Symphonies 1 & 2
Wed. April 14 at 8:00pm
Thu. April 15 at 2:00pm
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1
Sibelius: Humoresques Nos. 1 & 2 for Violin and Orchestra
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2
Wed. April 14, 2010 at 8:00pm
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Thu. April 15, 2010 at 2:00pm
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Thomas Dausgaard |
Sibelius Symphonies 3 & 4
Sat. April 17 at 7:30pm
Sibelius: Finlandia
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3
Sibelius: Cantique and Devotion for Violin and Orchestra
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4
The Sibelius Festival Chorus and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra will perform Finlandia alongside the TSO.
This Casual Concert is performed with an intermission and is
followed by a party for the whole audience in the lobby. On April 17,
mingle with TSO musicians and guest artists in a relaxed setting and
enjoy live music by local bands.
Sat. April 17, 2010 at 7:30pm
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Pekka Kuusisto
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Sibelius Symphonies 5, 6 & 7
Wed. April 21 at 8:00pm
Thu. April 22 at 8:00pm
Sibelius: Two Serenades for Violin and Orchestra
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7
Wed. April 21, 2010 at 8:00pm
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Thu. April 22, 2010 at 8:00pm
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Go behind the scenes with some of the TSO's amazing guest artists for candid interviews that explore the intriguing world of music making at the Drake Hotel!
April 13, 2010
Conductor Thomas Dausgaard and Rick Phillips explore the works of master Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
Doors open at 8pm for free admission!
Dinner seating begins at 6pm;
for reservations please call 416.531.5042, ext. 1
Offstage!
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