jmc's classics
This is the Birthday of Demetri Shostakovich and Will Smith. It is the anniversary of the Premier of Sibelius' Third Symphony (Opus#52) in 1907 with Sibelius conducting. The event took place in Helsinki Finland. Sibelius was not known as a conductor.
This is my favorite work of Sibelius. I also enjoy his Second Symphony (opus#43) especially the finale. Unfortunately, the Third seems to be his least popular symphony. His most popular are the Second and the Fifth (Opus #82). The most famous work by Sibelius is Finlandia (Opus #26). Sibelius lived to be 92 but did not write much after he turned 60. The Third like the Fifth is divided in to three movements instead of the standard four movements of a symphony. They are: Allegro moderato, Andantino con moto and Moderato; Allegro. The work lasts about 30 minutes. The three movements are about equal in length. It is more simple that his first two symphonies. His later symphonies are said to be more heavyweight. It was sometimes refere to as Sibelius' "English Symphony" because it is dedicated to British Composer conductor Granville Bantock (1868-1946) who was a sponsor of this work. Sibelius' symphonies do not have titles or nicknames like other composers' symphonies sometimes do. I have heard many versions of this work. The version that I have is With Colin Davis conducting the London symphony orchestra on the RCA label. I do recommend this work. It is coupled with the Fifth Symphony. This is part of a series of Davis conducting the other symphonies of Sibelius.
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