My Sibelius

The year 2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Finland’s greatest composer, Jean Sibelius. As part of the anniversary celebrations, a unique collection of essays by some of today’s leading names in classical music is being published in a magnificently produced book. Among the Finnish and foreign writers detailing their relationship to Sibelius and exploring his music from an astonishing variety of perspectives are opera singer Karita Mattila; conductors Okko Kamu and Susanna Mälkki; Edward Clark, long-standing President of the UK Sibelius Society; Sir Roger Gifford, a notable figure on the cultural scene in London; and American music historian Glenda Dawn Goss, author of several books on Sibelius. 

The book also contains intriguing photographic material bringing a perspective all its own, including previously unpublished images. The photo editor is Carl Henning, and the attractive graphic design is by Sami Valtere. The editors are a distinguished trio: Lasse Lehtinen, journalist and author; Janne Virkkunen, former editor-in-chief of the largest Finnish daily, Helsingin Sanomat, and also a great-grandson of Sibelius; and Anna Krohn, General Secretary of the anniversary year celebrations. 

There is obviously potential international interest in a volume such as this, and the book will in fact be published not only in Finnish and English but also in German (Mein Sibelius) and Swedish (Min Sibelius). All the language versions will be published on the composer’s birthday just before the anniversary year, 8 December 2014. Jean Sibelius was born in Hämeenlinna, and appropriately this celebratory book is being published by two cultural bodies in that town: the Sibelius Birth Town Foundation and the 115-year-old publishers Karisto Oy.  

Kustantaja: Karisto
Sidosasu: Kovakantinen
ean: 9789529338177
Hyllypaikka (Sivullinen kirjakauppa): Musiikki2307