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Sibelius Cycle Preconcert And Radio Talks (4), Sydney Symphony/Ashkenazy, Sydney Opera House, Andrew N. Schultz

Faculty of Creative Arts - Papers (Archive)

It Is interesting to consider the connection between hardship, suffering and turmoil in a composer's life and the capacity to create superb symphonic work. The three great symphonists of the early twentieth century show this even though they had radically different approaches to their work. Mahler was not crippled by his numerous personal tragedies but drew on them to create symphonies of transcendent scale. Shostakovlch lived through vast social and political upheaval and had to struggle to survive the Soviet system yet created public statements in his symphonies that are by turns bizarre, Ironic and triumphant. Sibelius also lived through …