Jean Sibelius: The Early Years, Maturity and Silence (1984)

Name: Jean Sibelius: The Early Years, Maturity and Silence
Rating: 3.7

3.7 of 5 from 47 ratings

1h 54min

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This video celebrates the musical quest of one of the great symphonists of the twentieth century; Jean Sibelius, as seen through his music, his letters and the words of his wife Aino, who was with him for more than sixty four years. His quest was not an easy one. Living through the great turning point in Western music, many of his concerns were strikingly similar to those of Schoenberg and Stravinsky but each chose a different path. Sibelius once said that while his colleagues were serving multicoloured cocktails, he offered only pure spring water. The metaphor is a good one but, as so often with artists who take an untrod path, critical opinion has fluctuated wildly.
In 1935 Sibelius was voted the most popular composer of all time by the members of The New York Philharmonic Society, a view that was echoed by many of the leading critics and composers in England. By the 1950's critical opinion had relegated Sibelius to a position of minor importance. Views are changing again and the time seems right for an intimate look at what Sibelius himself felt that he was trying to achieve.The two films on this video are an attempt to do just that.
Actors:: Vladimir Ashkenazy, Boris Belkin, Elisabeth Söderström
Directors:: Christopher Nupen
Studio:: Arthaus Musik
Genres:: Children & Family, Documentary, Music & Musicals, Performing Arts, Special Interest