Radio 3 in Concert: Sibelius the Storyteller (Part 2)

The second concert iis Songs and Seasons: Spring Dreams, Summer Fires, Winter Nights, exploring Finland's choral tradition as Owain Park and the BBC Singers present songs by Sibelius and his pupils - with readings of the poetry. No artist works in isolation, and Sibelius's struggle to tell Finland's stories opened a path for a generation of his compatriots. There are radiant, intensely romantic partsongs by two of Sibelius's most gifted pupils, as well as Sibelius's own Rakastava (The Lover). It's a world of changing seasons, of glowing landscapes and - burning beneath the music's lush textures and radiant harmonies - an unmistakable passion. Toivo Kuula died tragically young, just months after Finland won its independence; Madetoja went on to follow in Sibelius's footsteps as a symphonist. But their choral music, like Sibelius's own, finds them making music for (and with) their fellow-Finns: and speaking straight from the heart. Sibelius: Venematka, Saarella palaa, Sortunut and Sydameni Laulu from Part Songs, Op 18. Leevi Madetoja: No 6 - Metsan kuninkaalle, Op 13; No 2 - Erkki-paimen from 3 Songs, Op 30a; No 3 - Kevatunta and No 1 - Kehtolaulu, Op 50. Toivo Kuula: Tuuti lasta Tuonelahan, Hautalaulu, Keinutan kaikua from Part Songs, Op 11. Sibelius: Rakastava. BBC Singers, Owain Park (conductor), Laura Lake Adebisi (narrator), Hughie O'Donnell (narrator)