kullervopete wrote:

Tapkaara wrote: Oh wait, Esa-Pekka is in L.A....THERE'S the connection! Mention of maestro Salonen reminds me of a rather curious quote I came across on the net recently. The unknown reviewer was talking about the series of concerts that E-P S. gave at the Barbican centre in London during the Sibelius 50th anniversary celebrations in 2007. 'In his Symphony No. 3, Sibelius is perhaps most distant from the vodka-soaked Nordic miserablism that characterises so much of his work'. Just when you think you've seen it all yet another classic anti-Sibelian jibe rears its twisted head. -kp

I'm not sure this is a jab so much as an attempt to describe the maestro's output in catchy and clever terms.

Vodka-soaked? First of all, I alway drink Scotch when I listen to Sibelius.

Miserablism? OK, so Sibelius is often a "dark" composer, but how can you hear the 2nd and 7th Symphonies, Night Ride and Sunrise, the Oceanides, etc., and call that miserablism?

Again, trying to sum Sibelius up in a cute one-liner is impossible. Hell, trying to sum up his sound world at all is no easy task.

Vodka-soaked Nordic miserablism indeed!

If that's the critic being catchy and clever, I hate to think what he's like when he's trying to be nasty.

Andrew B wrote:

Vodka-soaked Nordic miserablism indeed! If that's the critic being catchy and clever, I hate to think that he's like when he's trying to be nasty.

Well said!

We know that JS could knock a drink back with the best of them. During the composition of the great Violin Concerto Sibelius had to be rescued from the Kamp and Konig Restaurants, but lets be clear, the Concerto reveals not a hint of JS's all night drunken revels. OK perhaps a sort of case could be made against a piece such as 'Valse chevaleresque' opus 96c which reminded Aino of her husbands late nights in Helsinki's fashionable drinking establishments. But for me, forget the vodka! the great mass of Sibelius's joyous music is soaked in pure spring water.--kp

The funny thing is, you very rarely hear of him imbibing vodka. Champagne - yes; brandy - yes; wine - yes; whisky - yes. But I don't really recall any incontrovertible references to him consuming vodka - or beer for that matter. Have I maybe overlooked any?

I'll freely admit that he may well have enjoyed vodka too (probably more than I do, although I'll willingly join Tapkaara for a Scotch instead). But a critic who accuses Sibelius of 'miserablism' owing to vodka has succumbed to cliché once too often. I didn't get where I am today by succumbing to clichés - indeed; a cliché to me is like a red rag to a bull.

KP, you're right to mention Aino's dislike of Valse chevaleresque. How vexed she would be if she knew that a preliminary version of this very piece has just turned up (the piano version, not the orchestral one) and will in due course be finding its way to a CD player near you/me/all of us.

In September, Andrew, let's have that Scotch! (Assuming Scotch is available...otherwise, I'm dying to try that whisky at the pub in Lahti you told me about...!)

I have only sampled Vodka once in my life during a memorable trip to Belarus in 2002. Our host insisted that I try some of his home-brewed variety. It nearly blew me home! -kp

Nearly blew you home - I can imagine - but as long as you didn't have an attack of miserablism, I think we have proved our case.