“Sibelius Is Part of Our Tradition”…Helsinki Philharmonic’s First Visit to Korea in 144 Years

The Orchestra That Premiered Sibelius’s Symphonies Nos. 1–6

Symphony No. 2 to Be Performed at Lotte Concert Hall on the 22nd

Sibelius Competition Winner Inmo Yang Joins as Soloist

Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), Finland's most renowned composer, composed seven symphonies throughout his lifetime. Of these, all but the final Seventh Symphony—so Nos. 1 through 6—were premiered by the predecessor of today's Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, with Sibelius himself conducting. Reflecting on this legacy, Ulf-Casper Saraste, Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic, emphasized in a written interview with The Asia Business Daily that "Sibelius is part of the tradition that has accompanied most of the nearly 150-year history of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra."

The Helsinki Philharmonic, which shares a special bond with Sibelius, will visit Korea for the very first time in its 144-year history. On the 22nd, the orchestra will perform Symphony No. 2, regarded as Sibelius's most beloved symphonic work, at Lotte Concert Hall.

Ulf-Casper Saraste, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Lotte Foundation (c) Felix Broede

Before Symphony No. 2, the first half of the program will open with selections from Sibelius's orchestral suite "Pelléas et Mélisande." The orchestra will perform four movements out of the total nine: No. 1 "At the Castle Gate," No. 2 "Mélisande," No. 8 "Intermezzo," and No. 9 "The Death of Mélisande."

Saraste explained, "I wanted to weave these four movements together like a small symphony," adding, "The suite reveals the many facets of Sibelius's musical character while creating a wonderful contrast to Symphony No. 2."

The program also features violinist Inmo Yang, whose ties to Finland run deep, performing Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 as soloist. Prior to his career as a composer, Sibelius himself played the violin; in 1965, commemorating the 100th anniversary of his birth, Finland inaugurated the Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition. This competition has since become one of the most prestigious violin contests in the world. Inmo Yang won the competition in 2022—the event is held every five years.

Regarding Inmo Yang, Saraste said, "He is a truly fascinating performer with a highly distinctive timbre," adding, "He is a perfect match for Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2."

Explaining his decision to program a work by Russian composer Prokofiev alongside Sibelius, Saraste noted, "Until 1917, Finland was part of Russia, and the influence of Russian music can be traced in Sibelius's works."

Sibelius is not only a musical figure but also a symbol of Finland's history and identity. His tone poem "Finlandia," composed in 1899 during a period of intensifying Russian imperial pressure, came to symbolize the national spirit of the Finnish people. It is this reverence—with Finland even naming an international competition after him—that underscores Sibelius's profound place in Finnish culture.

Violinist Inmo Yang. Photo by Taeuk Kang, Lotte Cultural Foundation (c)

Saraste is a world-renowned conductor who has served as music director and chief conductor of leading orchestras around the globe, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, and the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne in Germany. He is particularly acclaimed for his profound interpretations of Sibelius's music.

According to Saraste, partly thanks to Sibelius, Finns share a particular affinity for orchestral music—much like Koreans.

He also believes the Finnish temperament underpins this interest. Saraste noted, "Finnish people are not outwardly extroverted, but neither are they completely introverted. They harbor deep emotions but rarely express them in an exaggerated manner." Orchestral music—layered in complex instrumental timbres and textures—is well-suited to evoke these strong, collective feelings. In particular, Sibelius's orchestration is known for eschewing overt emotionalism; instead, it employs restrained melodies and subtle coloring, building gradually to reveal profound inner energy. Saraste has previously described the essence of Finnish music as "space and vastness," suggesting that the introspective yet powerful Finnish spirit finds voice in these works.

Saraste described the sound of the Helsinki Philharmonic as "extremely broad, deep, and richly expressive." He added, "Thanks to our curious audience, there are no real limitations on our program planning. From contemporary music to classical and late romantic works, we've played a diverse range of repertoire to packed halls, and this experience has greatly enhanced the orchestra's capabilities."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.