Kullervo (Sibelius)
Encyclopedia
Kullervo, Op. 7 is an early symphonic poem
for soloists, chorus and orchestra, written by the Finnish
composer Jean Sibelius
.
The work, based on the character of Kullervo
from the epic poem Kalevala
, premiered to great critical acclaim on 28 April 1892. The soloists at the premiere were Emmy Achté and Abraham Ojanperä. Kullervo had only four more performances in Sibelius's lifetime, the last one taking place on 12 March 1893. Sibelius never published it and it was only at the very end of his life that he considered revising it, having re-orchestrated the final section (Kullervo's Lament) of its third movement in 1957. There were performances of isolated movements before Sibelius's death (the fourth movement two days after the premiere and again in 1905 and in 1955; the third movement for a centenary celebration of the "Kalevala" in 1935). It was next performed in 1958, a year after Sibelius's death, with Jussi Jalas
, Sibelius's son-in-law, conducting the work. A limited edition release of the 1958 Jalas live performance became available in the early 1970s. The first studio recording was made by Paavo Berglund
and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
in 1971.
The first performance in the United States was given in Milwaukee with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
under Kenneth Schermerhorn
. Schermerhorn took his orchestra on tour and performed it in Washington, D.C.
and at Carnegie Hall
in New York. Since then many orchestras have performed and recorded the work.
1. Introduction
This movement sets up the work. It evokes the heroic sweep of the legendary Finnish setting, as well as the character Kullervo, who is a complex, tragic figure.
2. Kullervo's Youth
This movement reflects the contents of Runos 31 through 33 of the Kalevala, with a somber tone; Kullervo is marked for tragedy from birth onwards, and he spends his youth largely in slavery.
3. Kullervo and his Sister
Scored for male chorus as well as male and female soloists, this movement (which Sibelius allowed to be performed as a separate work) chronicles how Kullervo encounters three women; he attempts, unsuccessfully, to seduce them. After failing three times, he ravishes the third woman, only to realize too late that it is his long lost sister, who commits suicide when she learns the truth; she leaps into a stream and drowns herself. The movement ends with Kullervo's lament at his sister's death, and his own crime.
4. Kullervo Goes to Battle
Kullervo attempts to atone for his crime by seeking death on the battle field.
5. Kullervo's Death
A haunting male chorus tells of Kullervo's death; he inadvertently comes to the site of his sister's ravishment, marked by dead grass and bare earth, where nature has refused to renew itself. He addresses his magic sword, asking if it will slay him; the sword answers, and he commits suicide.
The work runs something over an hour. The duration depends very much upon the conductor. Seven recent recordings range from 70 to 80 minutes in length.
Symphonic poem
A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music in a single continuous section in which the content of a poem, a story or novel, a painting, a landscape or another source is illustrated or evoked. The term was first applied by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt to his 13 works in this vein...
for soloists, chorus and orchestra, written by the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
composer Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
.
The work, based on the character of Kullervo
Kullervo
In the Finnish Kalevala, Kullervo was the ill-fated son of Kalervo. He is the only irredeemably tragic character in Finnish mythology.-Rune 31 - Kullervo, son of Evil:...
from the epic poem Kalevala
Kalevala
The Kalevala is a 19th century work of epic poetry compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.It is regarded as the national epic of Finland and is one of the most significant works of Finnish literature...
, premiered to great critical acclaim on 28 April 1892. The soloists at the premiere were Emmy Achté and Abraham Ojanperä. Kullervo had only four more performances in Sibelius's lifetime, the last one taking place on 12 March 1893. Sibelius never published it and it was only at the very end of his life that he considered revising it, having re-orchestrated the final section (Kullervo's Lament) of its third movement in 1957. There were performances of isolated movements before Sibelius's death (the fourth movement two days after the premiere and again in 1905 and in 1955; the third movement for a centenary celebration of the "Kalevala" in 1935). It was next performed in 1958, a year after Sibelius's death, with Jussi Jalas
Jussi Jalas
Jussi Jalas was a Finnish conductor and composer.-Biography:Jussi Jalas was born as Armas Jussi Veikko Blomstedt in Jyväskylä in 1908. His father was the architect Yrjö Blomstedt. He studied at the Helsingfors Conservatory 1923-30 , and then in Paris 1933-34, under Wladimir Pohl, Pierre Monteux...
, Sibelius's son-in-law, conducting the work. A limited edition release of the 1958 Jalas live performance became available in the early 1970s. The first studio recording was made by Paavo Berglund
Paavo Berglund
Paavo Allan Engelbert Berglund is a Finnish conductor.Born in Helsinki, Berglund studied the violin as a child, and played an instrument made by his grandfather. By age 15, he had decided on music as his career, and by 18 was playing in restaurants...
and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is an English orchestra. Originally based in Bournemouth, the BSO moved its offices to the adjacent town of Poole in 1979....
in 1971.
The first performance in the United States was given in Milwaukee with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its primary performing venue is the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts...
under Kenneth Schermerhorn
Kenneth Schermerhorn
Kenneth Dewitt Schermerhorn was an American composer and orchestra conductor, most notably for the Nashville Symphony.-Biography:Schermerhorn was born in Schenectady, New York, where he studied clarinet, violin, and trumpet in school. At age 14, he forged a baptismal certificate to appear older so...
. Schermerhorn took his orchestra on tour and performed it in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York. Since then many orchestras have performed and recorded the work.
The music
The work is in five movements, each chronicling a different part of Kullervo's life, based on the Kullervo cycle from the Kalevala. The third and fifth movements contain passages of dialogue from the epic, sung by a baritone (Kullervo), a soprano (the three successive women Kullervo tries to seduce), and a male chorus (the narrative verses). Movements one, two and four are purely instrumental.1. Introduction
This movement sets up the work. It evokes the heroic sweep of the legendary Finnish setting, as well as the character Kullervo, who is a complex, tragic figure.
2. Kullervo's Youth
This movement reflects the contents of Runos 31 through 33 of the Kalevala, with a somber tone; Kullervo is marked for tragedy from birth onwards, and he spends his youth largely in slavery.
3. Kullervo and his Sister
Scored for male chorus as well as male and female soloists, this movement (which Sibelius allowed to be performed as a separate work) chronicles how Kullervo encounters three women; he attempts, unsuccessfully, to seduce them. After failing three times, he ravishes the third woman, only to realize too late that it is his long lost sister, who commits suicide when she learns the truth; she leaps into a stream and drowns herself. The movement ends with Kullervo's lament at his sister's death, and his own crime.
4. Kullervo Goes to Battle
Kullervo attempts to atone for his crime by seeking death on the battle field.
5. Kullervo's Death
A haunting male chorus tells of Kullervo's death; he inadvertently comes to the site of his sister's ravishment, marked by dead grass and bare earth, where nature has refused to renew itself. He addresses his magic sword, asking if it will slay him; the sword answers, and he commits suicide.
The work runs something over an hour. The duration depends very much upon the conductor. Seven recent recordings range from 70 to 80 minutes in length.
Selected discography
- Kullervo with Paavo BerglundPaavo BerglundPaavo Allan Engelbert Berglund is a Finnish conductor.Born in Helsinki, Berglund studied the violin as a child, and played an instrument made by his grandfather. By age 15, he had decided on music as his career, and by 18 was playing in restaurants...
conducting the Bournemouth Symphony OrchestraBournemouth Symphony OrchestraThe Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is an English orchestra. Originally based in Bournemouth, the BSO moved its offices to the adjacent town of Poole in 1979....
, in a symphonic survey of Sibelius. (EMI Classics 74485) - Kullervo with Robert SpanoRobert SpanoRobert Spano is an American conductor and pianist. Since 2001 he has been Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra , and he served as Music Director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic from 1996 to 2004...
conducting the Atlanta Symphony OrchestraAtlanta Symphony OrchestraThe Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Robert Spano has been its music director since 2001...
. (Telarc 80665) - Kullervo with Sir Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony OrchestraLondon Symphony OrchestraThe London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
. (LSO 0074) - Kullervo with Jukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka Saraste is a Finnish conductor and violinist.Saraste was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula, in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä...
conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony OrchestraFinnish Radio Symphony OrchestraThe Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a Finnish orchestra based in Helsinki, and is the chief radio orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company . The orchestra primarily gives concerts at the Helsinki Music Centre...
with The Polytech Choir and soloists Jorma HynninenJorma HynninenJorma Kalervo Hynninen is a Finnish baritone who performs regularly with the world's major opera companies. He has also worked in opera administration....
and Monica GroopMonica GroopMonica Groop is a Finnish operatic mezzo-soprano. After graduating from the Sibelius Academy, she joined the Finnish National Opera in 1986 where she remains a member...
. (FINLANDIA 0630-14906-2. 1996) - Kullervo with Jorma PanulaJorma PanulaJorma Panula is a Finnish conductor, composer, and professor of conducting.Panula is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy, where he studied the organ, church music and conducting...
conducting the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. (Naxos 8.553756) - Kullervo with Osmo VänskäOsmo VänskäOsmo Antero Vänskä is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist and composer.He started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic . He then became the principal clarinet of the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982...
conducting the Lahti Symphony Orchestra with the Helsinki University ChorusYL Male Voice ChoirYL Male Voice Choir was founded by P.J. Hannikainen in 1883 to become the choir of the Helsinki University. It is also the oldest Finnish-language choir. Nowadays the choir is not completely tied to the university, but all applicants are expected to have passed the matriculation exam or study at...
and soloists Lilli PaasikiviLilli PaasikiviThe Finnish mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi is principal soloist of the Finnish National Opera.Her roles have included Marguerite and Octavian . She has also performed as Fricka in Das Rheingold with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle...
and Raimo Laukka. (BISBIS RecordsBIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
1215) - Kullervo with Ari Rasilainen conducting Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz with The Helsinki Academic Male Choir KYLKauppakorkeakoulun Ylioppilaskunnan LaulajatThe Helsinki Academic Male Choir KYL is an academic men's choir based in Helsinki, Finland. The choir is associated with Aalto University, and the ensemble consist mainly of students and alumni of the university. The choir was founded in 1949. Since 1997 the artistic director of KYL has been Matti...
and soloists Juha Uusitalo and Satu Vihavainen (2005). - Kullervo Op. 7 with Neeme JärviNeeme JärviNeeme Järvi is an Estonian-born conductor.-Early life:Järvi studied music first in Tallinn, and later in Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolai Rabinovich, among others...
conducting the Gothenburg Symphony OrchestraGothenburg Symphony OrchestraThe Göteborgs Symfoniker is an orchestra based in Gothenburg, Sweden. Founded in 1905, it was granted the title of the "National Orchestra of Sweden" in 1997...
. (BISBIS RecordsBIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
313) (1985). - Kullervo Op. 7 with Paavo JärviPaavo JärviPaavo Järvi is an Estonian-American conductor, and current Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris.Järvi was born in Tallinn, Estonia, to conductor Neeme Järvi and Liilia Järvi. His siblings, Kristjan Järvi and Maarika Järvi, are also musicians...
conducting the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and soloists Randi Stene and Peter MatteiPeter MatteiPeter Mattei is a Swedish operatic baritone, particularly known for his performances in Mozart's baritone roles.- Biography :...
. (Virgin - EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
Music Distribution / EMI 286522). (1997) - Kullervo Op. 7 with Leif SegerstamLeif SegerstamLeif Segerstam is a Finnish conductor and composer.He studied violin, piano and conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and conducting at the Juilliard School in New York with Jean Morel....
conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic OrchestraHelsinki Philharmonic OrchestraThe Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Helsinki, Finland...
. (CD/SACD hybrid OndineOndine (record label)Ondine is a Finnish classical record label founded in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland, where the company is still based, and today offers an extremely eclectic catalogue of both contemporary Finnish music, as well as recordings with major Finnish and international artists...
ODE 1122-5) (2008). - Kullervo with Esa-Pekka SalonenEsa-Pekka SalonenEsa-Pekka Salonen is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is currently Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London and Conductor Laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.-Early career:...
conducting the Los Angeles PhilharmonicLos Angeles PhilharmonicThe Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
and Helsinki University Chorus. (1993: SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
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