Patriotic or Not, Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony is Rousing

Jean Sibelius’ Second Symphony has long been associated with his native Finland’s bid for freedom from the heavy hand of neighboring Russia. In fact, the piece is known as the “Symphony of Independence,” and its rousing themes can easily be heard in that context.

Yet Sibelius himself was silent on the subject, and it was left to others, including Leonard Bernstein, to make the connection. What is known for certain is that the symphony is dedicated to a friend, Axel Carpelan, who encouraged the composer to write his earlier nationalistic tribute, the overture Finlandia, and raised money for Sibelius to travel to Italy for musical inspiration. While there he developed the ideas that resulted in his Symphony No. 2 in D Major.

The work’s premiere in Helsinki on March 8, 1902 was a triumph. The organic unity of the work, from the rising three-note motif with which it opens and that is heard throughout, was widely appreciated. A conductor friend of Sibelius wrote that the andante “strikes one as the most broken-hearted protest against…injustice” and the finale “develops toward a triumphant conclusion intended to rouse…a picture of lighter and confident prospects for the future.”

Come hear for yourself Sunday, March 16 at 2:30 pm at Pick-Staiger Hall in Evanston in the Evanston Symphony Orchestra’s second program of its 2013-2014 season. The concert also features Bela Bartok’s exciting Dance Suite and Franz Liszt’s virtuosic Totentanz  (Dance of Death) with the “young super-virtuoso” Russian pianist Gleb Ivanov.

For ticket and other information on ESO concerts and events, please contact
 847-864-8804 or visit www.evanstonsymphony.org.