Sibelius Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22: II. The Swan of Tuonela

James Judd Conductor
Michael Austin Cor anglais

Gathering limits prevented the NZSO from performing to audiences for much of 2021, but we wanted to keep the band playing together and provide music for people at home. We recorded a number of great works during this time under the baton of Music Director Emeritus James Judd and with the support of broadcast partner RNZ Concert.

This is one of these works, and we hope it is of interest to you.

The second movement of Sibelius's Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22 tells the story of a mythical swan swimming in the dark, mystical river of Tuonela (the land of the dead in Finnish mythology). The low strings, play a deep, mournful melody, while the haunting sound of the cor anglais represents the swan gliding through the water.