Sibelius's Sonatas - played on his own violin
The Embassy of Finland in association with the UK Sibelius Society hosted a night of musical delight on Wednesday evening. The hall at the Ambassador's residence was full of music enthusiasts who were treared to a wonderful performance from violinist Satu Jalas, the granddaughter of Finland’s most famous composer Jean Sibelius, and Folke Gräsbeck, the renowned pianist.
What is more, Jalas was playing the original violin once owned by Sibelius himself. The violin, which Sibelius played when creating all his violin concertos, has a long history in the family.
According to Jalas, it was Sibelius’s uncle Johan, who first bought the violin from a Russian flea market. It then passed on to his uncle Pehr, who gave it to young Sibelius after noticing his emerging musical talent. Finally Jalas got it from Sibelius when she was 12 and needed a full-size violin.
By then the master himself had grown too old to play. While the violin has an old feel and is said to be made by famous violin maker Jacobus Stainer, its origin has remained unclear. The general opinion is that the violin originates from the end of the 18th century.
Before the concert the audience got to learn more about Sibelius and the history of the violin as Jalas talked briefly about her grandfather. She was only 14-years-old when he died, but she clearly remembers him well and didn’t hesitate to share her memories of her relationship with the musical genius with the audience. Her recollections painted a picture of an intuitive genius with a great love for nature and his family.
After Jalas’s introduction they proceeded to play a collection of Sibelius’s Sonatas, Sonatinas and Humoresques. The intense performance and nostalgic feel of the night were reflected on the applause Jalas and Gräsbeck received. The evening was clearly a success and shows how much Sibelius’s music is loved not only in Finland but also in the UK.