Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Complete Symphonies by Jean Sibelius - CD Review, June 20th-21st, 2026

I. Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39; Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43; Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82

II. Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63; Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52; Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104; Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105

Premiere album, released on June 5th

Jean Sibelius's symphonies played a decisive role in conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste's career. Symphony No. 4 was one of the works that inspired the Finnish musician, during his youth while studying violin, to pursue a career in conducting. In 1981, he won first prize at the Nordic Conducting Competition conducting Sibelius, and nine years later recorded his first complete cycle of these symphonies at the helm of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra to tremendous acclaim. In 2022, Jukka Pekka Saraste was appointed chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and launched a new recording project, capturing the complete Jean Sibelius symphonies once again, this time for the Ondine Records label - an exceptional collection that highlights the conductor's vast experience and stature as a complete musician who has reached full artistic maturity. He imbues Helsinki Orchestra with captivating sonorities and a musical narrative that is profoundly romantic and expressive.

Composed by Jean Sibelius between 1898 and 1924, these symphonies reflect the extraordinary stylistic evolution of the prolific Romantic composer. Beyond reimagining the architecture of orchestral composition at the turn of the 20th century, he was the first composer to give Finland its own musical language, distinct from the dominant German tradition of the era. Jean Sibelius became an iconic figure in his country's national culture, with his symphonies being performed over the past century by leading orchestras across Finland and worldwide. The Helsinki Philharmonic, one of Northern Europe's oldest and most prestigious musical institutions, founded in 1882, premiered most of these symphonies and carries a rich tradition of performing Sibelius's music, elevating it to new heights through this recent recording project led by Jukka Pekka Saraste.

In the album's liner notes, the Finnish conductor observes that "Finnish conductors and orchestras possess distinct experience and deep insight into interpreting these symphonies. Paavo Berglund, Leif Segerstam, Okko Kamu, and Jukka Pekka Saraste have served as chief conductors of both the Finnish Radio Symphony and the Helsinki Philharmonic, passing down their knowledge of how Jean Sibelius's symphonies should be performed." Saraste also shares that he received direct insights from conductor Jussi Jalas, Sibelius's son-in-law, regarding the instructions the composer gave musicians after rehearsals and concerts concerning tempos and inperformance style. Consequently, this new recording maintains a direct link to Jean Sibelius's symphonic vision, lending the album exceptional interest for listeners.

The collection comprises three CDs featuring studio and live concert recordings made between 2024 and 2026 at the Helsinki Music Centre.