We’ll explore the lives and music of the two Nordic greats: Edvard Grieg and Jean Sibelius. Music spanning almost one hundred years includes many chamber works, Grieg’s Peer Gynt, Norwegian Dances, and several Sibelius symphonies. Bill will introduce us to the Hardanger fiddle, and we’ll listen to Norwegian Leif Ove Andsnes perform on Edvard Grieg’s own piano. Finnish composer Jean Sibelius wrote about his fifth symphony, “It was as if God the Father was throwing pieces of mosaic from the edge of heaven and asking me to figure out what the pattern was.”
Grieg and Sibelius
Northern Lights and Mountains reflecting off a body of water
Playlist
Episode 1
Grieg, Edvard: Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7
IV. Finale: Molto allegro
Mikhail Pletnev, piano
Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Sonata, 7 Fugues
DG 459671
2:16 (excerpt)
Grieg, Edvard: Symphony in C minor
II. Adagio espressivo
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Järvi
Grieg: Symphony, In Autumn
DG 427321
7:06
Grieg, Edvard: “Jeg Elsker Dig” (I love but thee), Op. 5 No. 3
Barbara Bonney, soprano; Antonio Pappano, piano
Diamonds in The Snow – Nordic Songs
Decca 466762
1:35
Grieg, Edvard: Piano Sonata in E minor, Op. 7
I. Allegro moderato
Mikhail Pletnev, piano
Grieg: Lyric Pieces, Sonata, 7 Fugues
DG 459671
8:20
Grieg, Edvard: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 16
I. Allegro molto moderato, II. Adagio
Berlin Philharmonic/Jansons; Andsnes, piano
Grieg, Schumann: Piano Concertos
EMI 57562
18:50
Grieg, Edvard: Norwegian Dances, Op. 35, No. 4 and No. 2
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Järvi
Grieg: Symphonic Dances, Norwegian Dances, Lyric Suite
DG 419431
7:33
Episode 2
Grieg, Edvard: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
“Dawn,” “Anitra’s Dance”
New York Philharmonic/Bernstein
Peer Gynt Suites No. 1 & 2 / Valse Triste, Finlandia, The Swan Of Tuonela
CBS 36718
3:46
Grieg, Edvard: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
“In the Hall of the Mountain King”
New York Philharmonic/Bernstein
Peer Gynt Suites No. 1 & 2 / Valse Triste, Finlandia, The Swan Of Tuonela
CBS 36718
6:06
Grieg, Edvard: Peer Gynt
“Solveig’s Song”
Barbara Bonney, soprano; Antonio Pappano, piano
Diamonds In The Snow – Nordic Songs
Decca 466762
5:02
Grieg, Edvard: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 27
I. Un poco andante – Allegro molto ed agitato (excerpt)
Guarneri String Quartet
Sibelius, Grieg: String Quartets
Phil 426286
1:36
Grieg, Edvard: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 27
IV. Finale: Lento – Presto al saltarello
Guarneri String Quartet
Sibelius, Grieg: String Quartets
Phil 426286
8:20
Grieg, Edvard: Holberg Suite, Op. 40
I. Praeludium, III. Gavotte
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields/Marriner
Grieg: Holberg Suite; Sibelius: KareliaPhil 412727
5:56
Anonymous: “Gangar Etter Myllarguten”
Buen, hardanger fiddle
Grieg: Norweigian Peasant Dances, Op .72
Simax 1040
1:40
Arr. Grieg, Edvard: “Gangar Etter Myllarguten”
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano
The Long, Long Winter Night
EMI 56541
1:11
Grieg, Edvard: The Mountain Maid, Op. 67 No. 5
“Elsk” (Love)
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo soprano; Bengt Forsberg, piano
The Artist’s Album
DG 457688
2:13
Grieg, Edvard: Lyric Suite, Op. 54 (excerpts)
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Järvi
Grieg: Symphonic Dances, Norwegian Dances, Lyric Suite
DG 419431
11:15
Episode 3
Sibelius, Jean: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Overture
Finnish Radio Symphony/Saraste
Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 / Karelia Overture & Suite / Finandia
RCA 7765
2:37
Sibelius, Jean: Piano Quintet in G minor
I. Grave- Allegro (excerpt)
Sibelius Academy Quartet, Erik Tawaststjerna, piano
Jean Sibelius: Piano Quintet in G Minor, JS 159 & String Quartet in D Minor, Op. 56
Finlandia 375
1:28
Sibelius, Jean: Kullervo, Op. 7, I (excerpt)
Helsinki Phil/Berglund
Kullervo – The Origin Of Fire – Our Native Land
EMI 47496
2:07
ibelius, Jean: Kullervo, Op. 7
I. Allegro moderato (excerpt)
Helsinki Philharmonic/Berglund
Kullervo – The Origin Of Fire – Our Native Land
EMI 47496
0:23
Sibelius, Jean: Kullervo, Op. 7
V. Andante
Helsinki Philharmonic/Berglund
Kullervo – The Origin Of Fire – Our Native Land
EMI 47496
9:39
Sibelius, Jean: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Intermezzo
Finnish Radio Symphony/Saraste
Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conducts Sibelius
RCA 7765
3:45
Sibelius, Jean: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22, No. 3
“Swan of Tuonela”
Los Angeles Philharmonic/Salonen
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Op 22
Sony 48067
9:33
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
I. Andante, ma non troppo – Allegro energico, II. Andante
Finnish Radio Symphony/Saraste
Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conducts Sibelius
RCA 7765
20:31
Episode 4
Sibelius, Jean: Finlandia, Op. 26
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Davis
Sibelius: The Symphonies
Phil 446160
7:48
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43, I.
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Davis
Sibelius: The Symphonies
Phil 446160
9:41
Sibelius, Jean: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47
I. Allegro moderato
Helsinki Chamber Orchestra/Barbirolli; Szeryng, violin
Sibelius, Violin Concerto Bach, Concerto For 2 Violins*. Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 3
Intaglio 7201
14:52
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43, III & IV
Oslo Phil/Jansons
Sibelius: Symphony No 2, Swan Of Tuonela
EMI 54804
14:53
Episode 5
Sibelius, Jean: Pelleas and Melisande, Op. 46
“At the Castle Gate”
Tapiola Sinfonietta/Ollila
Sibelius: Pelleas & Melisande
Ondine 952
2:05
Sibelius, Jean: Quartet for Strings in D minor, Op. 56, “Voces intimae”
I. Andante – Allegro molto mederato, II. Vivace
Julliard String Quartet
Sibelius
Sony 48193
9:03
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 82
I. Tempo molto moderato
Philharmonia Orchestra/Salonen
Symphony No. 5; Pohjola’s Daughter
CBS MK 42366
0:48; 1:28; 14:01
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 82
II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto – Poco a poco stretto
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Davis
Sibelius Symphonies
Phil 6500959
17:03
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 5 in E flat Major, Op. 82
III. Allegro molto – Misterioso – Un pochettino largamente
Largamente assai – Un pochettino stretto
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Davis
Sibelius Symphonies
Phil 6500959
0:44
Sibelius, Jean: Four Pieces, Op. 78 “Romance”
Truls Mork, cello; Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Grieg: Cello Sonata; Sibelius: Malinconia
Virgin 45034
3:07
