Salonen conducts Sibelius, Royal Festival Hall

Under the somewhat self-important cultural glare of Western Europe and America, it is sometimes overlooked that Finland was a major centre of musical talent during the twentieth century. Even the most ubiquitous Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius, is, as Sir Peter Maxwell Davies recently noted, more than a little underrated. He was, in many respects, an innovator of comparable stature to Schoenberg and Stravinsky. This all-Finnish programme, conducted by native maestro and Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen, should serve to remind us of the importance of Finland in the development of twentieth-century music. 

As you might expect, Sibelius’s output gets a considerable airing here, in the shape of his Symphony No. 2, and the Violin Concerto. Both sit among the composer’s most performed works, but we are particularly excited to see them under Salonen’s control. The Violin Concerto will be a real treat with Georgian violinist Lisa Batiashvili in the solo role. It was with this very concerto that she won the International Sibelius Violin Competition in 1995 – and there is no doubt that her take on the cadenza leading to the recapitulation section of the first movement will be absolutely breathtaking. 

Sibelius’s works are coupled with a world premiere from one of Finland’s finest contemporary composers, Kaija Saariaho. For those yet to hear it, Saariaho’s music explores timbre and texture in fascinating ways, often using electronics as a means of opening up new sonic avenues. However, Saariaho also has a long-held melodic sensibility, which has grown in her more recent work. In this particular programme, Salonen conducts the UK premiere of her piece for organ and orchestra, Maan varjot (Earth's Shadows). Salonen has been a long-term promoter of Saariaho’s work, and the two have enjoyed a highly productive working relationship for the past three or so decades, so we can expect a very confident performance.

It is not often that you stumble across programmes like this, so do book soon if you fancy a taste of Finland’s finest music, past and present. As you leave the concert that evening, spare a thought for the fact that the sun will still be shining over Finland, late into the night. It is privilege indeed to be able to witness the dazzling light of that wonderful country over here – for one night at least.