the challenge of the violin

December is the high point of Sibelius birthday's 150th anniversary celebrations: on 8 December 1895 Johan Julius Christian (then Jean) was born in the town of Hämeenlinna about 60 miles north from Helsinki. It's not finished here: on 6 December 1917 Finland became independent from Russia. The two festivities are strictly connected: in 1889 Tsar Nicholas II reduced the quasi-autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland to a part of Russian Empire. In the following protest movement, Sibelius tone poem Finlandia op. 26 played a major role. Performed under different titles (to prevent Russian censorship) it was soon learned as an anthem by people who felt to be themselves a Nation well before independence. Since then, Sibelius has been for all one of the "father" of modern Finland.

 

Some days ago ended the 11th edition of Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition that every five years calls to Helsinki violinists from all over the world. It is perhaps the most known event regarding Sibelius and one of his most famous masterpieces, the Violin Concerto op. 47. The competition started fifty years ago (for the 100th anniversary of the composer's birth) with such a distinguished honorary jury: John Barbirolli, Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrakh, Eugene Ormandy, Herbert von Karajan, Igor Strawinskij, Henryk Szeryng and president Aino Sibelius. Oleg Kagan was the first winner. Few competitions can claim a debut like that. The next editions confirmed it as one of the most important Prizes in the world. It reached its record in 2010 with 220 applicants. Among the past editions winners there were Viktoria Mullova (1980), Ilja Kaler and Leōnidas Kavakos (1983), Pekka Kuusisto (1995), Alina Pogostkina (2005). It's organized by Sibelius Society of Finland and Sibelius Academy, with Lauri Tarasti as committee's chair. This year's finalists are Friederike Starkloff (Germany, 1990 - 3rd price), Emmanuel Tjeknavorian (Austria, 1995 - 2nd), Christel Lee (USA 1990 - 1st). The winner (photo), born in Indiana and grown up in Canada, took the degree in 2011 at Juilliard School and then studied with Ana Chumachenco at Kronberg Academy; an admirable career considering that it was awarded at GUI Price (Florence) and ARD Award (Munich) too. The young Christel Lee will play in many Prize-Concerts among which on 8 December in Hämeenlinna with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hannu Lintu and on 10 December in Birmingham with Helsinki Philharmonic conducted by John Storgårds (with a second performance on 12 in Dublin).

 

find more at

sibeliuscompetition.fi