Jean Sibelius – The Pacific Symphony Blog

Sibelius’ First: Inner Turmoil and Romantic Sensibility

The composer Jean Sibelius as a young man, in a suit, vest, and high color, sporting a mustasche

SIBELIUS: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 Sibelius, like Brahms, waited to finish his first symphony. His career was well underway when he tackled the challenge in his early 30s. And, like Brahms, he paid attention to the

From Sunny Italy to Frozen Finland: The Story Behind Sibelius’ Second Symphony

This season, one of the highlights of Pacific Symphony’s repertoire is Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 performed May 16-18 under the baton of Guest Conductor Tianyi Lu. The work is as stirring and evocative as the landscape of Finland itself. Interestingly, this quintessentially Finnish symphony was conceived under the warm Italian sun, a testament to how place and inspiration can transcend geographical boundaries….