Poster Composer Jean Sibelius in his library
Composer Jean Sibelius in his library
Santeri Levas (1899-1987), via Wikimedia Commons
Performance Today®

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

Jean Sibelius wrote his second symphony in 1902, when Finland was struggling for its independence from Russia. The symphony came to be known as Finland's 'Symphony of Independence'. Sibelius never call it that... he simply called it Symphony No. 2. Osmo Vanska conducts Sibelius's Symphony No. 2, in concert, on Thursday's Performance Today.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Gustav Mahler (arr. Claudius Tanski): Songs of a Wayfarer: Movement 2
Claudius Tanski, piano
Auf flugeln des Gesganges
Dabringhaus 9121489

Fritz Kreisler: Prelude and Allegro
Benjamin Beilman, violin; Pedja Muzijevic, piano
Spoleto Festival USA, Dock Street Theater, Charleston, SC

Paquito D'Rivera: A Farewell Mambo
Imani Winds
Beaches Fine Arts, Jacksonville, Florida, St. Paul's by the Sea Episcopal Church, Jacksonville, FL

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major, "Titan": Movements 3-4
Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra; Donald Runnicles, conductor
Grand Teton Music Festival, Walk Festival Hall, Jackson Hole, WY

Hour 2

Jean Sibelius: Pan and Echo, Op. 53
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Jarvi, conductor
Sibelius - Swanwhite Suite, Op.54
BIS 359

Claude Debussy: Beau Soir
Apollo Chamber Players: Matthew Detrick, violin; Viktor Valkov, piano
Christ the King Lutheran Church, Parish Hall, Houston, TX

Joseph Haydn: Quartet in D Major, Op. 50, No. 6
Escher String Quartet: Adam Barnett-Hart & Aaron Boyd, violins; Pierre Lapointe, viola; Dane Johansen, Cello
The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, Palm Beach, FL

Jean Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43: Movements 3-4
National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic; Osmo Vanska, conductor
Elsie & Marvin Dekelboum Concert Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.

Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.

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