Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39: I. Andante, ma non troppe - Allegro energico II. Andante, ma non troppo lento III. Scherzo (Allegro) Finale (quasi una fantasia)
Jean Sibelius stands apart from the other great symphonists. The extreme originality of his orchestration and the visionary power of his musical discourse take the listener to seldom explored places inhabited by sonorities as dark as they are poetic. Sibelius today remains the most famous raconteur of his country and its legends and is undoubtedly, alongside Grieg, the best-known Nordic composer.
Jean Sibelius wrote the first of his seven symphonies in 1898. The young composer already speaks in the unique voice he will develop in his later scores. Among the attributes worthy of the best Sibelius are the airy orchestration, the remarkable treatment of the lower registers, the long crescendos carefully crafted to build the utmost tension and the superb wind solos, in particular for the clarinet and bassoon. It is an intense, vibrant and wellstructured score.
Claudio Ricignuolo Recording: Maison symphonique de Montréal (Québec) Canada, October 2018
