Saturday 6 January 2018
Barbican Centre London
Concert Information
Twenty-five years separate Sibelius’s Second and Seventh symphonies, but that hardly hints at the growth in his musical style – No 2 rich and romantic; No 7 a powerful study, in one movement, of organic musical growth. Both form part of Sakari Ormao’s ongoing Sibelius symphony cycle.
Luonnotar 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.
Programme
Sibelius Symphony No 7
Sibelius Luonnotar
Aarre Merikanto Ekho (UK Premiere)
Sibelius Symphony No 2
Performers
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo conductor
Anu Komsi soprano