In
scale Robert Von Bahr’s Sibelius Edition is a stunningly
ambitious project. Who knows: perhaps when this is finished
we may yet be offered an Apple I-Pod with the complete
BIS Sibelius on one machine.
The
first four discs of Volume 7 set out the songs in sweeping
chronological order. Some like this approach; some don't.
Its down-side is that a satisfying recital sequence is
unlikely to be achieved. This turns out to be academic
as the songs are of generally very high quality such that
pleasurable discovery proceeds from track to track. Any
monotony is also offset by the constant alternation of
voices and accompanists. All the artists here must have
felt the heavy responsibility of representing all of Sibelius
for the foreseeable future and providing reference versions
of every piece BIS could lay their hands on. The last disc
is the shortest playing (short of 45 minutes) with preliminary
and alternative versions of songs.
Even
the earliest songs are rewarding including the unusual
Medan
nordanvinden for Juntunen, Groop and Ylönen's cello.
We are just regaining our equilibrium when we encounter
the
Näcken for Groop, Kuusisto, Laakso and Gräsbeck
and the wonderfully gritty Lasse Pöysti as reciter. Contrast
this with the fragment of Hostkvaell - the Rydberg poem
to which he returned later for the famous song. It's extremely
impressive even if it stops mid-stride. Mixed in among
the melodrama and quasi-scenas we get folksy ruralia such
as
Jag kysser dig lovingly despatched by Juntunen.
Groop's way with the
Den första kyssen has a passion-clouded
and introverted quality that is powerful indeed.
Våren
flyktar hastigt treads the fine line between ingenue
and passion in a mercurially perilous balance
Groop
is joined by Derwinger for the liquidly flowing
Sången
om korsspindeln from
King Christian II with
its half embrace with Schubert's
Erlkönig.
Tennis
at Trianon is sweet and predictive of Poulenc's settings
from two decades later even if it also casts admiring looks
towards exotic French grand opera. Groop and Gräbeck give
us the world premiere of
Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand from
1904. This is the India of threat and thuggee - dark waters
indeed. In 1906 he set some German poems, presumably to
please his publishers, Breitkopf and Härtel. His
Lenzegesang is
carefree and von Otter delivers a performance which is
a miracle of the deeply-drawn breath. There’s never once
a shade of strain. There’s something of Vienna and amorous
operetta here.
Jubal is from 1908. It suggests the harp in the piano accompaniment and
folksong in the vocal line. I was deeply impressed by
Duke
Magnus when I heard it first on the Decca collection.
Its impact has not faded in the voice of Groop and the
hands of Derwinger. Gabriel Suovanen and Gräsbeck take
on the chilly and bluff second of two songs from
Twelfth
Night -
Hey ho, the wind and the rain.
Vårtagen (
Spell
of Springtide) has the piano evoking swirling dark
waters while Suovanen stirs the emotions with a sort of
fatalistic nobility. Von Otter and Forsberg deliver a pensive
Arioso.
How
wonderful to hear
Luonnotar in this intimate close-quarters
version for soprano and piano. Juntunen had already recorded
the original with orchestra and continues the tradition
here. The quick-flowing fingers of Folke Gräsbeck and well-judged
restraint of Juntunen make this a version that could easily
be viable in concert. Wait to hear this in the Merbeck
or the Wigmore.
One
of these days some scholar will find the first two songs
which are missing from Six Songs op. 72. Meantime we have
the surviving four including the Griegian
The Echo Nymph.
There are a lot of nymphs and dryads in Sibelius. The 1917
song
Och finns det en tanke is inward, intoned or
chanted as if to the singer's private self. There’s a touch
of Duparc here too.
Vitsippan (
Wood Anemone)
is sweet and restrained.
Suovanen returns in shuddering defiance for
Kullervon Vallitus from
Kullervo,
as arranged by the composer in 1918.
By
contrast
Små flickorna from 1920 reeks of the heurigelieder
of Vienna.
Hymn to Thais is a setting from 1909
but was revised as late as 1948. It is a setting in English.
When it rises to fleeting operatic majesty it reminds me
of the Bantock
Sappho Fragments or
Isis's Lament.
Bantock, a staunch and practical Sibelius champion, had
died with his music in desuetude in 1946.
The
last disc offers some toothsome delicacies including Juntunen's
Serenad from
1887 in a preliminary version. Nice to hear Hynninen's
baritone in
Kyssens hopp which was sung by von Otter
on CD1.
Suovanen's
youthful
helden tone is called on again for the
German language version of
Kullervo’s Lament. The
raindrop iteration of the piano in the first version of
Judeflickans
sång does not detract from its brevity and singsong
hymnal quality. On CD3 we heard the two songs from
Twelfth
Night with piano; here they are heard in the original
version with guitar which was the way they were given on
Söderström’s and Krause’s mid-1970s Decca set with the
help of Carlos Bonell taking the place of Vladimir Ashkenazy.
Dolce
far niente is far from unwelcome
as a return in its 1910 preliminary version sung by the
breathlessly vivacious Juntunen.
We
end the five BIS discs with two songs arranged for soprano
and mezzo with piano. It makes for a richly contrasted
effect to have Juntunen and Groop side by side, voice by
voice.
In
common with the others, Volume 7 includes the usual dumpy
booklet – the most substantial so far with all the sung
words and translations duly printed. The notes are in English,
Finnish, German, Japanese and French. The words of the
songs are printed in their sung language and in English
translation side by side. A typically attentive BIS touch
is that the list of song contents gives the page number
in the booklet for the poem being set. Very user-friendly.
There’s
full annotation together with Andrew Barnett's compact
eight page biography of the composer. His grand Sibelius
biography was published in 2007 by Yale University Press.
It's a hallmark of the series that the card box is oversized
for the five discs, two booklets and series promotional
leaflet. The contents seem to rattle around in there and
the box takes up valuable space on your already crowded
shelves.
Each
disc is in its own plain white sleeve with one face of
the sleeve carrying a polythene insert through which you
can see which of the five discs you are handling.
Another
landmark set in the complete Sibelius edition. Erudition
and the delight of discovery jostle each other for attention.
Rob Barnett
see the Sibelius
Edition themed review page for reviews of other
releases
Reviews of individual Sibelius song discs from BIS
Orchestral
songs
Songs
Vol. 2
Songs
Vol. 3
And other labels
Krause/Söderström
(Decca)
Krause
(Decca Eloquence)
Karnéus
(Hyperion)
Isokoski
(Ondine)
Wennberg
(EMI Gemini)
The Sibelius edition
Just to take stock: already released as of March 2009 are:-
Volume 1 – Tone Poems
Volume 2 – Chamber Music I
Volume 3 – Voice and Orchestra
Volume 4 – Piano Music Vol.1
Volume 5 – Theatre Music
Volume 6 – Violin and Piano
The provisional release plan for the remaining volumes
is as follows. The dates given have already slipped by
about three months so take these as broadly indicative:-
Volume 8 Orchestral Works (incl. Violin Concerto)
Leonidas Kavakos, Dong-Suk Kang, Lahti SO/Osmo Vänskä and
Gothenburg SO/Neeme Järvi March 2009
Volume 9 Chamber Music II (piano quintet, brass
music; cello music) Jaakko Kuusisto, Torleif Thedéen,
Brass Partout and Lasse Pöysti June 2009
Volume 10 Choir a cappella Soloists, Jubilate
Choir, Dominante Choir, YL Male Voice Choir and Orphei
Drängar Sept. 2009
Volume 11 Piano Music II Folke Gräsbeck Dec. 2009
Volume 12 Symphonies (including fragments) Lahti
SO / Osmo Vänskä March 2010
Volume 13 Miscellaneous (incl. organ works and
the Masonic Music) Various March 2010
Detailed Tracklisting
CD 1
Serenad, JS 167 (1887–88)
(Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 2'48
Text: Johan Ludvig Runeberg
(see p. 152)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Medan nordanvinden gnyr
(1888) (Manuscript HUL 1283) 1'11
[While the NorthWind Roars] · Text:
anon. (p. 152) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica
Groop mezzo-soprano · Marko Ylönen cello
Näcken, JS 138 (1888) (Manuscript/
Breitkopf & Härtel) 3'19
[TheWatersprite] · Text:
GunnarWennerberg (p. 153)
Dramatic ‘runic sorcery’ for
soprano, recitation, violin, cello and piano
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Lasse
Pöysti recitation
Jaakko Kuusisto violin · Joel
Laakso cello · Folke Gräsbeck piano
Då världar ännu skapade
ej voro, JS 56 (1888, fragment) (M/s / Breitkopf & Härtel)
2'23
[WhenWorlds Still UncreatedWere] · Text:
anon. (p. 154) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Marko
Ylönen cello · Folke Gräsbeck piano
En visa, JS 71 (1888) (Breitkopf & Härtel)
1'25
[A Song] · Text: Baeckman
(p. 155)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Solen slog himlen röd…(1888,
fragment) (Manuscript HUL 1179) 1'34
[The Sun Reddened the Sky…] · Text:
Ernst Josephson (p. 155) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Orgier, JS 143 (1888–89)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'17
[Orgies] · Text: Lars Stenbäck
(p. 155)
Dan Karlström tenor · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Skogsrået, JS 171 (1888–89)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 6'40
[TheWood-Nymph] · Text:
Viktor Rydberg (p. 156)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Höstkväll (1888–89, fragment)
(Manuscript HUL 1180) 2'22
[Autumn Evening] · Text:
Viktor Rydberg (p. 181) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Flickan gick en vintermorgon
(1890–92, fragment) (Manuscript HUL 1186) 0'45
[TheMaidenWent OneWinterMorning]
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
205) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Jag kysser dig [och ledsnar]
ej (1889–91) (Manuscript HUL 1183) 0'54
[I Kiss You andWeary Not] · Text:
J. L. Runeberg (p. 159) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Löjet var utan hem (1890–91)
(Manuscript HUL 1286/2) 2'25
[WitWasWithout a Home] · Text:
J. L. Runeberg (p. 159) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Likhet, JS 120 (1890) (Breitkopf & Härtel)
1'40
[Alikeness] · Text: J.
L. Runeberg (p. 160)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Den första kyssen, JS 57
(1891–92) (M/s / Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'08
[The First Kiss] · Text:
J. L. Runeberg (p. 178)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Tule, tule kultani (folk-song
arrangement), JS 211 (1892) (M/s / Breitkopf & Härtel)
1'14
[Come, Come, My Sweetheart] · Text:
traditional (p. 160)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Seven Runeberg Songs, Op.
13 (Breitkopf & Härtel) 20'33
Texts: J. L. Runeberg (p.
161–65)
1. Under strandens granar
[Under the Fir-Trees] (1892) 5'24
2. Kyssens hopp [The Kiss’s
Hope] (1892) 2'10
3. Hjärtats morgon [The
Heart’s Morning] (1890) 2'27
4. Våren flyktar hastigt
[Spring Flies Speedily] (1891) 1'33
5. Drömmen [The Dream]
(1891) 1'43
6. Till Frigga [To Frigga]
(1892) 3'59
7. Jägargossen [The Young
Huntsman] (1891) 2'44
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
CD 2
Seven Songs, Op. 17 (Breitkopf & Härtel)
13'29
1. Se’n har jag ej frågat
mera (1890–92) 2'14
[Since Then I Have Questioned
No Further]
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
165)
2. Sov in! [Go to Sleep!]
(1891–92/1894) 1'41
Text: Karl August Tavaststjerna
(p. 166)
3. Fågellek [Play of the
Birds] (1891) 1'32
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 166)
4. Vilse [Astray] (1898,
rev. 1902) 0'52
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 167)
5. En slända [A Dragonfly]
(1904) 4'22
Text: Oscar Levertin (p.
168)
6. Illalle [To Evening]
(1898) 1'15
Text: August Valdemar Forsman
[Koskimies] (p. 168)
7. Lastu lainehilla [Driftwood]
(1902) 1'06
Text: Ilmari Calamnius
(p. 169)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Koskenlaskijan morsiamet,
Op. 33 (1897) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 11'31
[The Rapids-Rider’s Brides] · Text:
A. Oksanen (p. 169)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer · World premiere recording
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Sången om korsspindeln,
Op. 27 No. 4 (1898) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 3'31
[Fool’s Song of the Spider]
from the music to Adolf Paul’s play Kung Kristian II (King
Christian II) (p. 172)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
Segelfahrt, JS 166 (1899)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'30
[Sailing] · Text: Johannes Öhquist
(p. 173)
Dan Karlström tenor · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Souda, souda, sinisorsa,
JS 180 (1899) (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 1'10
[Swim, Duck, Swim] · Text:
A. V. Forsman [Koskimies] (p. 173)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Andantino in E flat minor,
JS 42 (1900) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'09
[Säv, säv, susa / Sigh,
Sigh, Sedges] · [Text: Gustaf Fröding (p. 176)]
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Six Songs, Op. 36 (Breitkopf & Härtel)
11'56
1. Svarta rosor [Black
Roses] (1899) 1'56
Text: Ernst Josephson (p.
174)
2. Men min fågel märks
dock icke [But My Bird is Long in Homing] (1899) 2'23
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
175)
3. Bollspelet vid Trianon
[Tennis at Trianon] (1899) 1'20
Text: Gustaf Fröding (p.
175)
4. Säv, säv, susa [Sigh,
Sigh, Sedges] (1900) 2'33
Text: Gustaf Fröding (p.
176)
5. Marssnön [The March
Snow] (1900) 1'18
Text: Josef JuliusWecksell
(p. 177)
6. Demanten på marssnön
[The Diamond on the March Snow] (1900) 1'57
Text: J. J.Wecksell (p.
177)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Five Songs, Op. 37 (Breitkopf & Härtel)
11'26
1. Den första kyssen [The
First Kiss] (1900) 1'52
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
178)
2. Lasse liten [Little
Lasse] (1902) 1'59
Text: Zachris Topelius
(p. 178)
3. Soluppgång [Sunrise]
(1902) 2'24
Text: Tor Hedberg (p. 179)
4. Var det en dröm? [Was
it a Dream?] (1902) 1'58
Text: J. J.Wecksell (p.
179)
5. Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings
möte [The Tryst] (1901) 2'50
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
180)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Jag ville, jag vore i Indialand
(1903–04) (Manuscript HUL 1124 & 1189) 2'46
[I wish I were in India] · Text:
Gustaf Fröding (p. 185) · World premiere recording
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Five Songs, Op. 38 (Breitkopf & Härtel)
19'20
1. Höstkväll [Autumn Evening]
(1903) 4'44
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p.
181)
2. På verandan vid havet
[On a Balcony by the Sea] (1903) 3'36
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p.
182)
3. I natten [In the Night]
(1903) 3'56
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p.
183)
4. Harpolekaren och hans
son [The Harper and his Son] (1904) 3'41
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p.
183)
5. Jag ville, jag vore
i Indialand [I wish I were in India] (1904) 2'58
Text: Gustaf Fröding (p.
185)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Les trois soeurs aveugles,
JS 147 No. 6 [Op. 46 No. 4] (1905) (Lienau) 3'44
[The Three Blind Sisters]
from the music to Maurice Mæterlinck’s play Pelléas et
Mélisande (p. 186)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Six Songs, Op. 50 (1906)
(Lienau) 14'13
1. Lenzgesang [Spring Song]
2'23
Text: Arthur Fitger (p.
187)
2. Sehnsucht [Longing]
1'53
Text: Emil RudolfWeiß (p.
188)
3. Im Feld ein Mädchen
singt [In the Field a Maid Sings] 3'00
Text: Margarete Susman
(p. 189)
4. Aus banger Brust [From
Anxious Heart] 2'17
Text: Richard Dehmel (p.
189)
5. Die stille Stadt [The
Silent City] 2'39
Text: Richard Dehmel (p.
190)
6. Rosenlied [Song of the
Roses] 1'33
Text: Anna Ritter (p. 190)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Erloschen, JS 73 (1906)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'46
[Extinguished] · Text:
Georg Busse-Palma (p. 191)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Two Songs, Op. 35 (1908)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 8'50
1. Jubal 4'28
Text: Ernst Josephson (p.
192)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
2. Teodora 4'16
Text: Bertel Gripenberg
(p. 193)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Vänskapens blomma, JS 215
(1909) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'54
[The Flower of Friendship] · Text:
Ernst Josephson (p. 198)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Eight Songs, Op. 57 (1909)
(Lienau) 21'48
Texts: Ernst Josephson
(p. 194–98)
1. Älven och snigeln [The
River and the Snail] 2'46
2. En blomma stod vid vägen
[A Flower Stood by the Wayside] 2'06
3. Kvarnhjulet [The Mill-wheel]
2'51
4. Maj [May] 2'35
5. Jag är ett träd [I am
a Tree] 2'46
6. Hertig Magnus [Duke
Magnus] 3'17
7. Vänskapens blomma [The
Flower of Friendship] 2'36
8. Näcken [TheWatersprite]
2'10
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
Two Songs from ‘Twelfth
Night’, Op. 60 (1909) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 4'22
Texts:William Shakespeare;
Swedish version by Carl August Hagberg (p. 199)
Arrangements for voice
and piano by the composer
1. Kom nu hit, död! [Come
Away, Death!] 3'17
2. Hållilå, uti storm och
i regn [Hey, ho, the Wind and the Rain] 0'59
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Eight Songs, Op. 61 (1910)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 25'23
1. Långsamt som kvällskyn
[Slowly as the Evening Sky] 2'11
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 200)
2. Vattenplask [LappingWaters]
3'31
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p.
201)
3. När jag drömmer [When
I Dream] 3'04
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 201)
4. Romeo 1'42
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 202)
5. Romans [Romance] 3'43
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 203)
6. Dolce far niente 1'40
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 204)
7. Fåfäng önskan [IdleWishes]
3'12
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
204)
8. Vårtagen [The Spell
of Springtide] 1'54
Text: Bertel Gripenberg
(p. 205)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
CD 3
Arioso, Op. 3 (1911) (Breitkopf & Härtel)
4'06
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
205)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Five Christmas Songs, Op.
1 (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 12'53
1. Nu står jul vid snöig
port [Now Christmas Stands at the Snowy Gate] (1913) 1'45
Text: Zachris Topelius
(p. 206)
2. Nu så kommer julen [Now
is Christmas Coming] (1913) 2'16
Text: Zachris Topelius
(p. 207)
3. Det mörknar ute [Outside
it is Growing Dark] (1897) 2'46
Text: Zachris Topelius
(p. 207)
4. Giv mig ej glans, ej
guld, ej prakt (1909) 3'43
[Give me no Splendour,
Gold or Pomp]
Text: Zachris Topelius
(p. 208)
5. On hanget korkeat, nietokset
[High are the Snowdrifts] (1901) 2'06
Text:Wilkku Joukahainen
(p. 209)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
Luonnotar, Op. 70 (1913)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 8'48
Text: based on Kalevala
I : 111–242 (p. 210)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
From Six Songs, Op. 72
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 8'39
(Songs Nos 1 & 2 are
lost)
3. Kyssen [The Kiss] (1915)
2'22
Text: Viktor Rydberg (p.
211)
4. Kaiutar [The Echo Nymph]
(1915) 3'10
Text: Larin Kyösti (p.
212)
5. DerWanderer und der
Bach [TheWanderer and the Brook] (1915) 0'47
Text: Martin Greif (p.
213)
6. Hundra vägar [A HundredWays]
(1907) 2'03
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
213)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
Tanken, JS 192 (1915) (Breitkopf & Härtel)
1'29
[The Thought] · Text: J.
L. Runeberg (p. 214)
Anne Sofie von Otter & Monica
Groop mezzo-sopranos · Bengt Forsberg piano
Six Songs, Op. 86 (Breitkopf & Härtel)
11'42
1. Vårförnimmelser [The
Coming of Spring] (1917) 1'12
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 214)
2. Längtan heter min arvedel
[Longing is my Heritage] (1917) 3'11
Text: Erik Axel Karlfeldt
(p. 215)
3. Dold förening [Hidden
Union] (1917) 0'53
Text: Carl Snoilsky (p.
216)
4. Och finns det en tanke
[And Is There a Thought] (1917) 2'15
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 216)
5. Sångarlön [The Singer’s
Reward] (1917) 1'45
Text: Carl Snoilsky (p.
217)
6. I systrar, I bröder,
I älskande par! [Ye Sisters, Ye Brothers] (1918) 2'01
Text: Mikael Lybeck (p.
217)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
Six Songs, Op. 88 (1917)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 7'54
1. Blåsippan [The Blue
Anemone] 0'41
Text: Frans Michael Franzén
(p. 218)
2. De bägge rosorna [The
Two Roses] 1'12
Text: F. M. Franzén (p.
218)
3. Vitsippan [TheWood Anemone]
1'14
Text: F. M. Franzén (p.
219)
4. Sippan [The Anemone]
0'55
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
219)
CD 4
5. Törnet [The Thorn] 2'04
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
219)
6. Blommans öde [The Flower’s
Destiny] 1'21
Text: J. L. Runeberg (p.
220)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Six Runeberg Songs, Op.
90 (1917) (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 13'43
Texts: J. L. Runeberg (p.
220–24)
1. Norden [The North] 2'04
2. Hennes budskap [Her
Message] 1'32
3. Morgonen [The Morning]
2'24
4. Fågelfängarn [The Bird
Catcher] 1'28
5. Sommarnatten [Summer
Night] 2'46
6. Vem styrde hit din väg?
[Who Brought You Hither?] 3'02
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Kullervon valitus, from
Op. 7 (1892, arr. 1917–18) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'49
[Kullervo’s Lament] · Text:
Kalevala XXXV: 271–86 (p. 225)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Mummon syntymäpäivänä,
JS136 (1919) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 1'41
[Birthday Song to Grandmother] · Text:
anon. (p. 225)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Autrefois, Scène pastorale,
Op. 96b (1919–20) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 5'23
Text: Hjalmar Procopé (p.
226) · World premiere recording
Arrangement for two voices
and piano by the composer
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica
Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
Små flickorna, JS 174 (1920)
(Breitkopf & Härtel) 3'09
[Young Girls] · Text: Hjalmar
Procopé (p. 226)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
Narciss, JS 140 (1925)
(Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 1'45
[Narcissus] · Text: Bertel
Gripenberg (p. 228)
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Siltavahti, JS 170b (1928)
(Manuscript copy / Private collection) 2'24
[The Guardian of the Bridge] · Text:Wäinö Sola
(p. 228)
Dan Karlström tenor · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Solitude, Op. 51 No. 2
[JS 48 No. 2b] (Breitkopf & Härtel)) 2'53
[Den judiska flickans sång
/ The Jewish Girl’s Song] (1906, rev. 1939)
from the music to Hjalmar
Procopé’s play Belsazars gästabud (Belshazzar’s Feast)
(p. 229)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer
Anne Sofie von Otter mezzo-soprano · Bengt
Forsberg piano
Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable,
JS 97 (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 1'53
(1909, rev. 1948) · Text:
Arthur H. Borgström (p. 230)
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Love
Derwinger piano
CD 5
Appendix: Preliminary/Alternative
Versions
Serenad, JS 167 (preliminary
version · 1887) (Manuscript HUL 1169) 2'53
Text: J. L. Runeberg (see
p. 152) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
From Seven Runeberg Songs,
Op. 13 (preliminary versions)
Texts: J. L. Runeberg (p.
162–63) · World premiere recordingS
2. Kyssens hopp [The Kiss’s
Hope] (1892) (Manuscript HUL 1077) 2'21
3. Hjärtats morgon [The
Heart’s Morning] (1890) (Manuscript HUL 1079 & 1080)
2'25
5. Drömmen [The Dream]
(1891) (Manuscript HUL 1083) 2'02
Jorma Hynninen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
KullervosWehruf, from Op.
7 (first version · 1892, rev. 1892–93) (Breitkopf & Härtel)
2'12
[Kullervo’s Lament] · WORLD
PREMIÈRE RECORDING
Text: Kalevala XXXV: 271–86;
German version by Franz Anton von Schiefner (p. 231)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
From Seven Songs, Op. 17
(early draft copies) · World premiere recordingS
1. Se’n har jag ej frågat
mera (1890–92) (Manuscript HUL 1400/5) 2'37
[Since Then I Have Questioned
No Further] · [Text: J. L. Runeberg (p. 165)]
Folke Gräsbeck piano
6. Illalle [To Evening]
(1898) (Manuscript HUL 1094) 1'50
Text: A. V. Forsman [Koskimies]
(p. 168)
Gabriel Suovanen baritone
Soluppgång, JS 87 (preliminary
version · 1902) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'14
[Sunrise] · Text: Tor Hedberg
(p. 179)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Judeflickans sång, JS 48
No. 2b [Op. 51 No. 2] (Breitkopf & Härtel) 2'51
[The Jewish Girl’s Song]
(first version · 1906, rev. c. 1907) · World premiere recording
from the music to Hjalmar
Procopé’s play Belsazars gästabud (Belshazzar’s Feast)
(p. 229)
Arrangement for voice and
piano by the composer
Monica Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Hundra vägar, Op. 72 No.
6 (preliminary version · 1907) (Manuscript HUL 1148) 2'13
[A HundredWays] · Text:
J. L. Runeberg (p. 213) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Teodora, Op. 35 No. 2 (preliminary
version · 1908) (Manuscript HUL 1097) 4'39
Text: Bertel Gripenberg
(p. 193) · World premiere recording
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Hymn to Thaïs, the Unforgettable,
JS 97 (Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab) 2'06
(first version · 1909) · Text:
Arthur Borgström (p. 230) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
Two Songs from ‘Twelfth
Night’, Op. 60 (1909) (Breitkopf & Härtel) 5'24
Texts:William Shakespeare;
Swedish version by Carl August Hagberg (p. 199–200)
Original versions for voice
and guitar
1. Kom nu hit, död! [Come
Away, Death!] 3'12
2. Hållilå, uti storm och
i regn [Hey, ho, the Wind and the Rain] 2'07
Gabriel Suovanen baritone · Juuso
Nieminen guitar
Dolce far niente, Op. 61
No. 6 (preliminary version · 1910) (Manuscript HUL 1144)
1'43
Text: K. A. Tavaststjerna
(p. 204) · World premiere recording
Helena Juntunen soprano · Folke
Gräsbeck piano
On hanget korkeat, nietokset,
Op. 1 No. 5 (Manuscript HUL 1075 / Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab)
2'07
[High are the Snowdrifts] · Text:Wilkku
Joukahainen (p. 209) · World premiere recording
Arrangement for two voices
and piano by the composer (1901, rev. 1903–05)
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica
Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
Pastorale, extract from ‘Autrefois’,
Op. 96b (1919–20) (M/s Sibelius Museum, Turku) 2'45
Text: Hjalmar Procopé (p.
226) · World premiere recording
Arrangement for two voices
and piano by the composer
Helena Juntunen soprano · Monica
Groop mezzo-soprano · Folke Gräsbeck piano
TT: 5h 56m 11s
In 1982 the Sibelius family
donated a major collection of manuscripts to Helsinki University
Library (HUL, now the National Library of Finland). Many
of these works are now known by JS numbers, referring to
the alphabetical list of Jean Sibelius’s compositions without
opus number used in Fabian Dahlström’s Jean Sibelius: Thematisch-bibliographisches
Verzeichnis seinerWerke (Breitkopf & Härtel 2003).
A significant number of these compositions will ultimately
be published by Breitkopf & Härtel. Additional surviving
pieces and fragments not included in the JS list are located
principally in the collection of the National Library of
Finland and are identified here by their numbers in the
HUL collection, as catalogued by Kari Kilpeläinen in The
Jean Sibelius Musical Manuscripts at Helsinki University
Library – A Complete Catalogue (Breitkopf & Härtel,
1991).