On Sunday it’s time to start the celebrations of Finland’s biggest romantic composer – Jean Sibelius. I have chosen a programme with one of his biggest piano pieces, Kyllikki, inspired by Kalevala, and to combine it with other pieces written at about the same time.

When you hear the pieces it is hard to think that they are indeed written with less than 20 years apart. Brahms’ Op. 118, preludes from Debussy’s first book and Sibelius’ music next to each other – from three very different European countries at that time. Then we take a leap forward to the time when Sibelius had already finished his works, and he burned the unfinished ones, to hear the music of the coming generation. “Le Baiser de l’Enfant-Jésus” is one of the biggest movements from Messiaens two-hour long masterpiece “Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus”.

Welcome!

 

 

 

— Programme —

 

J. Brahms       6 Klavierstücke op. 118

Intermezzo a minor
Intermezzo A major
Ballade g minor
Intermezzo f minor
Romance F major
Intermezzo e-flat minor

 

C. Debussy      from Préludes – Premier livre

Lent et grave (…Danseuses de Delphes)
Modérément animé (…la sérénade interrompue)
Trist et lent (…des pas sur le neige)
Capricieux et léger (…La danse de Puck)
Animé et tumultueux (…ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest)

 

—- Intermission —-

 

J. Sibelius      Kyllikki – Three lyrical pieces op. 41

Largamente – Allegro
Andantino
Commodo

 

O. Messiaen      from Vingt regards sur l’Enfant-Jésus

Le baiser de l’Enfant-Jésus