I write this post from Lahti, in the middle of the Sibelius Festival - the first with Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and very enjoyable as always. Below is a press release just issued by the Lahti Symphony Orchestra about next year's festival. We normally get a good crowd from the UK Sibelius Society - it would be great if some, er, 'citizens' of the Forum could come too.

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The 10th International Lahti Sibelius Festival will be held on 10th-13th September 2009
The theme of the festival, conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, is ‘Sibelius – Towards Europe’

The Lahti Symphony Orchestra’s 10th International Sibelius Festival will be held at the Sibelius Hall on 10th-13th September 2009 conducted by its artistic director, Jukka-Pekka Saraste. The theme of the festival is ‘Sibelius – Towards Europe’, and the programme consists of works from Sibelius’s middle period. During the festival there are three orchestral concerts (10th-12th September), two chamber music concerts (12th and 13th September) and other Sibelius-themed activites.

Saraste: ‘In the programme you can see Sibelius’s views widening towards Europe’

‘In my opinion, in Sibelius’s output, the Second Symphony is already a clear departure from Finnish national provinciality and therefore an internationally oriented work’, says Jukka-Pekka Saraste about the festival programme of 2009, and continues: ‘The theme of the festival “Towards Europe” describes Sibelius’s views widening towards different parts of Europe.’ Saraste adds: ‘The energy and rapid pulse of the Third Symphony points in the direction of the English way of life, and in the Fourth Symphony you can clearly notice the influence of Schoenberg in the form of a Germanic formal conception and disappearing tonality. On the other hand, in the orchestration of Pohjola’s Daughter we approach a French-style timbre with cornets and harp.’ Saraste recognizes the overall influence of Wagner in the output of composers of this period. ‘When itt comes to Sibelius, his situation is exceptionally fortuitous, as – unlike many of his colleagues – he didn’t remain in the influence of Wagner, but managed to find his own original voice.’

The programmes of the orchestral concerts

In the programme of the opening concert on Thursday 10th September 2009 are Sibelius’s Second Symphony, Scene with Cranes and Luonnotar with other orchestral songs sung by the prominent young Finnish soprano Helena Juntunen. The soloist in Sibelius’s Violin Concerto on Friday 11th September 2009 is the Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud, who plays regularly with many of the world’s leading orchestras. The concert also includes the tone poem The Dryad and the Third Symphony. The programme of the concert on Saturday 12th September 2009 consists of the Fourth Symphony, and the tone poems Pohjola’s Daughter, The Bard, The Oceanides and Night Ride and Sunrise.


Ticket sales will commence on 5th January 2009 for single tickets; group sales and advance reservations will begin in the autumn of 2008. Enquiries: Lahti Symphony Orchestra group sales telephone: +358 3 814 4460. e-mail:

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Andrew B wrote:

In the programme of the opening concert ... Scene with Cranes and Luonnotar ... Helena Juntunen ...

Must ... book ... now ... credit card ... burning ...

Thanks for information, Andrew.

I don´t understand what Saraste is saying, especially about 4th and P. Tytär, in which the orchestration is the same than in Mariinsky Theater (maybe it got influence in instruments from France? ). I am saying this by heart, please correct me if i´m wrong.

I suppose it is intended as a guide only.
After all, despite its planned UK première and its dedication to Bantock, I don't find anything in the Third that really sounds English either. (Before you say it, Kullervopete: let's dismiss all that total rot about mists and English fog that is sometimes quoted, a prime example of early musicological uncorroborated fantasy.)

With that guidance I wouldn´t travel anywhere. It´s like visiting Paris with a guide thinking that we are in Teheran.

I once got on a plane at Arlanda (Stockholm) where the check-in desk said 'Barcelona' and the departure gate said 'Tehran'. The destination... er, London Gatwick. (And the airline was Sterling!) It also amused me that the video screens in the departure lounge were on a constant loop showing some military guy demonstrating how to fold and pack a parachute. Just right for nervous travellers!