Artists

Mahler Chamber Orchestra

Javier Perianes, piano

Klaus Mäkelä, conductor

Palace Concerts

Programme

Nordic Airs

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

The Swan of Tuonela, Op. 22 No. 2 (1895. Rev. 1897 and 1900)

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)

Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 (1868)

Jean Sibelius

Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104 (1923)

Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105 (1924)

The Colours of Scandinavia

Although his essentially lyrical style made him akin to the world of songs and short piano pieces, some of the Norwegian Edvard Grieg’s most popular works are orchestral. Among them, his Piano Concerto stands out, which seems to be derived from Central European models (Schumann, above all). Javier Perianes –born in Huelva– has been proving for years that he is today one of his best performers in the world. Escorting Grieg, come three works by another Scandinavian, the Finnish Jean Sibelius, whose passionate symphonic world begins by looking towards his homeland with works such as The Swan of Tuonela, a symphonic poem that was part of a cycle dedicated to the Kalevala, the great Finnish epic story. Sibelius continued with a series of seven symphonies which conclude with a Sixth Symphony of modal harmonies and polyphonic clarity, and a Seventh based in one single movement of an organic superb cohesion. All this will be served live by the Finnish Klaus Mäkelä, a young conductor but also a mature musician, this time in charge of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. This is Mäkelä’s first time at the Festival and he is the musical conductor in residence of this 70th edition.