2009 Sibelius Festival - Lahti, Finland

[Tapkaara]

Right.  Well.  We still have to wait then...

I have my musical trip to Japan for an all-Ifukube concert coming up in July...I will be sure to report on that too. (All of this travel just to hear music is getting out of hand!)

[mahler10th]

I will be sure to report on that too.

You're having a laugh, aren't you?

[Tapkaara]

You're having a laugh, aren't you?

How did you know I was laughing??

[Tapkaara]

Photo 1: Me on the steps of Ainola, Sibelius's home in Järvenpää
Photo 2: Me at his grave on the grounds of his estate
Photo 3: SIbelius Hall in Lahti
Photo 4: The reception area of the hall

[Tapkaara]

Photo 5: The big sign in the reception area
Photo 6: The inside of the hall

[Tapkaara]

This consisted (primarily) of three nights of orchestral works with Jukka-Pekka Saraste leading the Lahti band. Many tone poems including Luonnotar, Pohjola's Daughter, NIght Ride and Sunrise and the Oceanides. Norwegian Henning Kraggurud performed the Violin Concerto. Symphonies 2, 3 and 4 were performed.

The Lahti players pretty much nailed everything; this music indeed resides in their souls. Saraste was an apt dirigent who could lay on the high drama when needed (the 2nd Symphony) but could also cause display a profound skill for the sparser side of Sibelius (the 4th) with great austere clarity. His reading of Luonnotar with soprano Helena Juntunen was nothing short of spine-tingling and it was a highlight of the concert series.

Finlandia was played as an encore the final night and I noticed many in the mostly Finnish audience had tears in their eyes. All in all, it was stupendous!!

[mahler10th]

Thank you for all of that Tapkaara.   How fabulous.  Did you see the oven in which he allegedly burnt his 8th?

[Chaszz]

Thank you for all of that Tapkaara.   How fabulous.  Did you see the oven in which he allegedly burnt his 8th?

Interesting that it took so long for the promise of this thread to be fulfilled. This is what it must have felt like waiting for Bayreuth to be built. However, the result was worth it.

[Tapkaara]

Thank you for all of that Tapkaara.   How fabulous.  Did you see the oven in which he allegedly burnt his 8th?

Well, it was a fireplace and not an oven. And yes, I did see the fireplace. As close as I will ever come to the 8th.

[Tapkaara]

Interesting that it took so long for the promise of this thread to be fulfilled. This is what it must have felt like waiting for Bayreuth to be built. However, the result was worth it.

Better late than never. Yeah, sorry it took me so long...

[Chosen Barley]

Tapkaara, I wanted to ask you about some Godzilla music but didn't know where to go, so here I am on the Sibelius Festival topic because you happen to be posting here.  Yes, I'm a dolt, I still haven't figured out forums.

Okay - the music that goes with "Godzilla comes ashore" from 1954 film - what instrument's making those super-low notes right at the start?