Sibelius Festival

Sibelius Festival

First two weeks in OctoberJean Sibelius (1865-1957) was a Finnish composer known for his seven symphonies and many symphonic poems for orchestra. Most of the symphonic poems are based on the Kalevala, Finland's national epic poem. But his most famous work is Finlandia, which was first performed in Helsinki in 1900. Because it expressed so much national pride and patriotism, the work became the anthem of the Finnish independence movement, and for many years the Russians refused to allow its performance.
From 1951 to 1965 Helsinki hosted Sibelius Weeks as an annual musical tribute to the composer; after 1965 the festival expanded to become the Helsinki Festival. Today an annual Sibelius Festival is held in the town of Järvenpää during the first two weeks in October.
CONTACTS:
Jarvenpaa Tourist Information Office
Jarvenpa-talo
Hallintokatu, 04400 Finland
358-9-2719-2718; fax: 358-9-2711-199
www.jarvenpaa.fi/sivu/index.tmpl?sivu_id=13
SOURCES:
FestEur-1961, p. 30
MusFestWrld-1963, p. 188