Jean Sibelius - The Early Years and Maturity and Silence (Excerpt)

[@Mackeson3]

Have this on DVD, fantastic! Just about the best documentary about any composer living or dead. The beginning showing a reconstruction of the great man being driven about reminds me, apparently one of his chauffeurs was a guy by the name of Einojuhani Rautavaara (Yes that Einojuhani Rautavaara!)

[@pauldockree9915]

Aged 73 - wonderful interpretation of Andante Festivo.

[@mashtali1]

precious video.

[@ellandelachapelle]

Very well told story. Makes you curious to hear the rest! Why did Sibelius stop composing? My suggestion is: he was 60and too old to make the transition into modern music! (Rachmaninov and Strauss had the same problem. But Sibelius had the good taste to stop while he was on his peak!)

[@IvanLuza]

omg i love the opening piece!!!! andante festivo

[@ziegunerweiser]

gotta love this man

[@Richard-hv5hh]

Gotta totally agree with you there! I have never ceased to be in love with his violin concerto since I was a child. It speaks to me like no other.

[@ellandelachapelle]

Why did he make an exception? And conducted Andante Festivo? My suggestion: they all felt that "war was in the air". And he wanted to inspire his people in front of a probable war! (he certainly succeeded. Finland managed to resist the Soveiet Union in the Winter War later that year!) (P.S. My grandfather´s uncle Bengt von Törne was a pupil of Sibelius. And wrote a book about his beloved Master!)

[@StatusFennica]

Great!

[@martinlee5604]

Maybe the silence was his eighth symphony.

[@ilokivi]

Unfortunately both halves of the original programme from which this extract is taken, are now private.

[@Mackeson3]

Available on DVD still?

[@MECowgo]

Oh no! The link to this video in the description has been set to "private."

[@MD-md4th]

He was in his 60s! Maybe he just wanted to retire and enjoy life more without pressure. He was probably surprised himself to learn he had a few more decades left…

[@ilkinond]

NOT 1929!!! They must mean 1939.

[@ellandelachapelle]

Mistake. My grandfather's brother!