Surprising Finale to finnish symphony

The ending of the fifth symphony by Finnish composer Sibelius – that will be performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in March – is one that frequently surprises audiences.



The APO will perform the Sibelius symphony on Thursday 6th March at the Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE at a concert called Schumann & Sibelius, the second concert in its 2008 APN News & Media Premier Series.



Considered one of the composer’s most popular works, the fifth symphony ends with six chords that have been described as “hammer blows”, each separated by silence that may have you thinking the last note has sounded before there is another… and another… and another…



“Although we never discourage spontaneous applause, the Sibelius symphony is well-known for surprising audiences unfamiliar with the work,” says APO Chief Executive, Barbara Glaser. “In fact, some orchestras even include a warning in their programme notes! The symphony is also widely considered to be the best-loved of Sibelius’s seven symphonies and, under the baton of renowned Sibelius interpreter and countryman Maestro Okko Kamu, this is sure to be a thrilling performance – all the way to the finish.”



Helsinki-based Maestro Kamu first gained international attention when he won the top prize at the inaugural International Karajan Conductor Competition in 1969 when he was just 22-years-old. Since then he has been Music Director of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Stockholm Sinfonietta, Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic and Netherlands Royal Symphony Orchestra, as well as Principal Guest Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Copenhagen Philharmonic.



Maestro Kamu was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 1995, Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera in 1996 and Principal Guest Conductor of Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne in 1997. He has recorded over 100 CDs for various music labels. He is also a very keen golfer, having played in over 30 countries.



Written to mark his 50th birthday in 1915 – a national holiday in Finland – Sibelius re-wrote his fifth symphony twice before being satisfied with the final version competed in 1919 which the APO will perform.



In addition to the Sibelius symphony, the Schumann & Sibelius concert features another of the composer’s works, Scene with Cranes, as well as Sallinen’s At the Palace Gates with the Schumann of the title being his cello concerto performed with soloist Richard Harwood.



UK-based Richard Harwood, who performed Richard Strauss’s Don Quixote with the APO last year, will also perform a recital with Russian pianist Julia Fedoseeva on Monday 10th March in the Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall, THE EDGE as part of the APO’s Lion Foundation Twilight Series.



“This year’s Lion Foundation Twilight Series concerts are proving to be extremely popular and give music lovers the opportunity to see and hear some of our esteemed international soloists up close and personal in these intimate chamber music recitals,” says Ms. Glaser. “Richard Harwood is an incredibly accomplished young cellist who has been compared to Jacqueline du Pre and this recital enables audiences to see another side of his talents.”



Single tickets to Schumann & Sibelius (from $20-$110) and Richard Harwood & Julia Fedoseeva ($55 general admission) are available from Ticketek, Ph 09 307 5139, www.ticketek.co.nz.



ENDS