Sibelius: The Last Journey

Copenhagen Phil's distinctive honorary guest conductor and Sibelius interpreter, Thomas Dausgaard, is back in front of the orchestra for an evening in which he transforms no fewer than three symphonies by Sibelius into a powerful portrait of the Finnish national composer. Sibelius' music is the epitome of the Nordic universe. The forces of nature are transformed into symphonic landscapes that seem to grow out of the Finnish mountains. Through his last three symphonies, Sibelius travelled deep into the dark heart of music and nature to arrive at a serene stillness and a deeply concentrated expression. Finland's nature is said to reflect the stoic temperament of the Finns. The desolate landscape, the forests, the lakes and the long winter have created a special blend of melancholy and toughness. No composer captures this character more strongly than Jean Sibelius. Where Central European Romanticism seeks outbursts of emotion, Sibelius strives for musical necessity. His symphonies often speak quietly, but with a strong inner tension. Between 1915 and 1924, Sibelius composed his last three symphonies. They constitute the culmination of a lifelong search for a personal musical language and a high point in Nordic music history. Symphony No. 5 is the most monumental. The epic expression culminates in the famous ‘swan melody’, inspired by birds in flight over the Finnish lakes. The finale stands as a powerful full stop. Symphony No. 6 moves in a different direction. The music is, in Sibelius' own words, “cold spring water cleansed of superfluous effects“. In Symphony No. 7, Sibelius gathers his experience in one unbroken span, where form and expression merge into a single movement. Programme: Sibelius / Symphony No. 5 Sibelius / Symphony No. 6 Sibelius / Symphony No. 7 Organiser: Copenhagen Phil Duration: Approx. two hours incl. interval Free concert introduction The doors close promptly Drinks, outerwear and larger bags may not be taken into the hall Cloakroom fee included in the price

• Æres-gæstedirigent: Thomas Dausgaard

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