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A Psychological Symphony

Kate Molleson follows the creation of the Fourth Symphony by Sibelius amid much self-doubt - a work at least one biographer has termed as his Psychological Symphony.

Kate Molleson follows the creation of the Fourth Symphony by Sibelius amid much self-doubt - a work at least one biographer has termed as his Psychological Symphony. In the build-up to World War One, in his Fourth Symphony Sibelius continued to search for a new compositional language, whilst at the same time having increasing concerns about money, and also his health from excessive drinking and smoking.

Twelfth Night, Op 60 No 1 (Come Away, Death)
Gerald Finley, bass-baritone
Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, conductor

String Quartet in D minor, Op 56 ‘Voces Intimae’ (excerpt)
Emerson Quartet

Des Abends, Op 58 No 5
Janne Mertanen, piano

Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Spring’s Spell, Op 61 No 6
Elisabeth Söderström, soprano
Vladimir Ashkenazy, piano

Symphony No 4 in A minor, Op 63 (excerpt)
Berlin Philharmoniker
Sir Simon Rattle, conductor

Produced by Luke Whitlock

Release date:

59 minutes

Broadcast

  • Wed 4 Mar 2026 16:00

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