Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (1865?1957) is one of the most popular and prominent composers to have emerged from Northern Europe. In his native Finland he achieved monumental status, and his orchestral works are staples of the repertoire. For so public a figure, however, much of his life has been shrouded in mystery, particularly the compositional silence of his last three decades. This study shows that Sibelius was plagued by nerves and self-doubt, frequently seeking refuge in alcohol, and that the long creative silence was in reality bound up with the composition of an eighth symphony which he was ultimately to destroy. This is the first single-volume biography on Sibelius in English to be published in nearly a decade, and it includes much new material not previously available.

CONTENIDO:

Preface
Introduction
Chapter1: Youth in Hämeenlinna 1865?85
Chapter 2: Helsinki, Berlin, Vienna 1885?92
Chapter 3: The Nationalist Poet 1892?9
Chapter 4: The Way of the Future 1899?1907
Chapter 5: Miraculous Logic 1907?14
Chapter 6: The Forging of Thor?s Hammer 1914?19
Chapter 7: Pure, Cold Water 1919?27
Chapter 8: The Silence of Järvenpää 1927?57
Epilogue
Classified List of Works
Further Reading
Selective Discography
Index

Ilustración de portada por Jean-Jacques Sempé