Sibelius - Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 - Salonen

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Jean Sibelius
Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63
1 Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
2 Allegro molto vivace
3 Il tempo largo
4 Allegro
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

[@davidwright8432]

I've been listening to this over several decades now, and this is the most stunning interpretation I've ever heard. Helped by excellent sound engineering.The detail within the sound stage is almost sculptural.

[@blofeld2430]

Sibelius was a great story teller, and he knew how to make every single instrument tell an important part of the story.

[@rekavarga9480]

The deepest symphony from the deepest composer. So pure, so genial! In my opinion Sibelius is the greatest composer forever ❤ Congratulation for fantastic Salonen and the majestic Orchestra!

[@annejones597]

I came to this from the superb recording of the Third. this is wonderful. In my view, the last two movements of this symphony remain the epitome of Sibelius, his work and his soul. Nobody with any heart should be able to listen to that third movement, or the final notes of the work as a whole, without weeping. This is what music should be.

[@annakimborahpa]

The composer referred to it as "a psychological symphony" and it briefly had the nickname "Lucus a nun lucendo" which is an irrational, nonsensical play on words. It is when the camera focuses on the conductor (who knows the music by heart) that we can visualize all of the cognitive and emotional contradictions contained in the music that appear so unexpectedly throughout and often without any sense of resolution. For me, it is perfect soul-searching music to have on hand when things get out of hand in life and there seems to be no explanation beyond faith for experiencing such difficulties. British composer/music critic Robert Simpson referred to Sibelius' Fourth as "the symphony of the tritone" and considered it to be the Finnish master's greatest work.

[@walterblake5737]

The most beautiful way to describe a masterpiece. Entangled in the mess.

[@JuliaPikalova]

Thank you for your deep comment! Just a note on "Lucus a non lucendo": this phrase does have a meaning, it comes from the very first work on Latin etymology and means: [the word] "forest" [derives] from "what's not illuminated". Etymology "a contrariis" (by contradiction) was popular in those days. // Sorry for off-topic :)

[@annakimborahpa]

@@JuliaPikalova No problem, so it was a play on words. From the wikipedia entry: "The symphony briefly had a nickname, "Lucus a non lucendo", an expression that literally means "a grove from not shining", suggesting, in this case, a place where light does not penetrate." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._4_(Sibelius) As I recall from a documentary, Sibelius traveled to the bleakest part of northern Finland with a friend to compose the symphony, so it seems he found a suitable environment to correspond with the void he was experiencing in himself at the time. Perhaps he had to face this ordeal and then put it behind him so he could go on to compose his last three optimistic symphonies, No.'s 5, 6 & 7.

[@timok4576]

Great description. This is one of those pieces that... I Know it's great, but I just can't get hold of, I don't quite understand what's going on. That makes it interesting.

[@Yeoldelole]

So well said!

[@filizdener6052]

Beautiful composition, perfect performance of orchestra and extraordinary conducting!!!

[@caylyfishbein2469]

Listening to this for music homework- absolutely beautiful.

[@giancitton2604]

Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 1 Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio 00:03 2 Allegro molto vivace 09:54 3 Il tempo largo 14:45 4 Allegro 24:51

[@davidwright8432]

Thanks for the timings!

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Esa-Pekka Salonen is the 2024 winner of the Polar Prize. When you listen to this interpretation you can understand why. Sibelius no 4 has never before been played so good, and under such a fine conductor.

[@1spissatus]

Is it his finest symphony? The deepest and most serious, yes. Still love the 6th!

[@Mouet01]

Interprétation géniale, génialement filmée, d'une symphonie géniale . . . en un mot comme en cent Génial ! ! !

[@danielaguilera474]

There is no wayyyyy this is becoming my favorite sibelius symphony! I used to think the 4th was so boring, lacked substance and just made no sense whatsoever. Now i can't get it out of my head! That third movement climax gives me goosebumps omg. The way everything ends overall, too, just makes sense for some reason! Its almost too much❤💔💔💔😭😫😲😳🥺❤️‍🩹

[@ljiljanastanic9076]

Music begins where the possibilities of language end!Says the composer!That s it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@1spissatus]

Not the most comfortable and compromising symphony of Sibelius but Salonen is brilliant!

[@Tortuosit]

That ending is so different from so many super powered endings. I love it.

[@ilirllukaci5345]

I knew I knew why this symphony. There's a frustrated truncated La Mer in the first movement.

[@frankstein9982]

This video looks like it's from the mid-nineties. It's an excellent performance; it's just that Salonen has long since shed his high-priest Karajanesque podium manner, fortunately. Musically however, this is a A+ performance.

[@daydays12]

Sublime!

[@shin-i-chikozima]

This symphony promotes spiritual uplift and awakening, and activates the soul

[@wab4100]

großartiges werk! hervorragende interpretation!

[@ilirllukaci5345]

Mr. Salonen is an interesting one.

[@Discovery_and_Change]

(Not a fan) 6:29 terror | 14:46 2nd movement | 17:24 transition | 21:21 checkpoint | 21:29 checkpoint |

[@billfrankeberger754]

GREAT performance. But... how do you get a copy of this? I find nothing anywhere to buy this on DVD or the music on CD. Best performance out there and... you can't git it???

[@kaylabeltify]

you can always download it from youtube

[@timroebuck3458]

Best performance is a subjective concept when you're talking about great conductors or orchestras.

[@andresrozsa637]

This must've been a long time ago!

[@johnpaulpiano4186]

Is it just me, or is Salonen very hard to read what he is trying to tell the orchestra? At least, as a conductor myself, I feel like he is somewhat unreadable...I mean, you can read him to a certain extent, but in the quieter sections, his hand motions are very vague

[@Tortuosit]

32:32 Interesting. At first, instrumet groups are sequential, then 50/50, then overlapped.

[@shin-gg2rk3mt3d]

若き日のサロネンによる、ケーゲル以来の尖鋭的シベリウス！

[@ГерманУстинов-з1х]

эх!!!!

[@Lircking]

6:00 neon genesis evangelion energy

[@Attilio-wv1jm]

A sibelius elswhere less problematic and more clear