| London Philharmonic Orchestra | |
| Osmo Vänskä | Direction |
| Alexandra Soumm | Violon |
Hear Osmo Vänskä conduct the moving, magical music of Sibelius.
At the dawn of the 20th century, a wave of artistic activity swept through Finland. The hope was that a creative awakening would lead to independence from Russia. Like many others, Jean Sibelius turned to the country's folk poetry, creating four symphonic poems on the story of Lemminkäinen, a Don Juan-like figure from Finnish folklore who met with a savage death only for his dismembered body to be reassembled and revived by his mother.
Osmo Vänskä, one of the greatest living exponents of Sibelius's music, conducts works by his compatriot including the four Lemminkäinen 'legends' imbued with a sense of light and momentum, alongside the dark, melodic Violin Concerto.
Royal Festival Hall at 6pm - Free pre-concert event. Musicians from the LPO join students from London Music Masters' innovative music-education programme, the Bridge Project, for a musical celebration. Tonight's soloist, violinist Alexandra Soumm, works regularly with the students as an Award Holder with LMM, acting as an inspirational role model. Free