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Finland Awakes!

BBC Symphony Orchestra/Oramo

,Barbican Hall
A picture of Guy Johnson holding a cello

Music from the young Sibelius to mark the centenary of Finnish Independence, ending with the First Symphony, a noble and magnificent symphonic debut.

To mark Finnish Independence Day – on December 6 1917, Finland ended its autonomy as a Grand Duchy within Russia and became a republic – the BBC SO’s Finnish Chief Conductor offers a programme by Finland’s greatest composer. Sibelius’s Press Celebrations Music contains what would later emerge as Finlandia which soon became a defiant unofficial national anthem. Guy Johnson plays two rarities for cello and orchestra, originally written in 1915 for church use, and which share the same opus number. The BBC SO’s Sibelius’s symphony cycle continues with the powerful First from 1899, a time when the Russian Emperor was flexing his muscles at the Finnish people, giving the music an almost political charge.

Tagged with: Classical music BBC Symphony Orchestra 2017–18 Multibuy Celebrating Finland More...

Programme

  • Sibelius   Press Celebrations Music (UK Premiere)
  •   Cantique and Devotion
  •   Symphony No 1

Performers

  • BBC Symphony Orchestra  
  • Sakari Oramo   conductor
  • Guy Johnston   cello

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an orchestra playing classical music in the barbican hall in central london

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Barbican Hall

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The Barbican Hall is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

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