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Kullervo, Op. 7 is an early choral symphony written by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). Sibelius subtitled Kullervo a "symphonic poem for soloists, chorus and orchestra." This article does not cite any references or sources. ...
Johan Julius Christian Jean / Janne Sibelius ( ; December 8, 1865 – September 20, 1957) was a Finnish composer of classical music and one of the most notable composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ...
The work, based on the character of Kullervo from the epic poem Kalevala, premiered to great critical acclaim in 1892. However, Sibelius soon withdrew the work and it was only at the very end of his life that he considered revising it. Sibelius allowed a performance of the third movement for a centenary celebration of the "Kalevala" in 1935. It was next performed in 1958, a year after Sibelius's death, with Jussi Jalas, Sibelius's son-in-law, conducting the work. It wasn't recorded until the 1970s. Kullervos Curse by Akseli Gallen-Kallela In the Finnish Kalevala, Kullervo was the ill-fated son of Kalervo. ...
The Kalevala is an epic poem which Elias Lönnrot compiled from Finnish folk lore in the 19th century. ...
1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...
The first performance in the United States was given in Milwaukee with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra under Kenneth Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn took his orchestra on tour and performed it in Washington, D.C. and at Carnegie Hall in New York. Since then many orchestras have performed and recorded the work. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an orchestra based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, considered to be one of the top twenty orchestras in the United States. ...
Kenneth Dewitt Schermerhorn (November 20, 1929 – April 18, 2005) was an American composer and orchestra conductor. ...
For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ...
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street. ...
The music The work is in five movements, each chronicling a different part of Kullervo's life, based on verses from the Kalevala. The third and fifth movements contain passages of dialogue from the epic, sung by a baritone (Kullervo), a soprano (the 3 successive women Kullervo tries to seduce), and a male chorus (the narrative verses). Movements one, two and four are purely instrumental.
1. Introduction This movement sets up the work. It evokes the heroic sweep of the legendary Finnish setting, as well as the character Kullervo, who is a complex, tragic figure.
2. Kullervo's Youth This movement reflects the contents of Runes 31 through 33 of the Kalevala, with a somber tone; Kullervo is marked for tragedy from birth onwards, and he spends his youth largely in slavery.
3. Kullervo and his Sister Scored for male chorus as well as male and female soloists, this movement (which Sibelius allowed to be performed as a separate work) chronicles how Kullervo encounters three women; he attempts, unsuccessfully, to seduce them. After failing three times, he ravishes the third woman, only to realize too late that it is his long lost sister, who commits suicide when she learns the truth; she leaps into a stream and drowns herself. The movement ends with Kullervo's lament at his sister's death, and his own crime.
4. Kullervo Goes to Battle Kullervo attempts to atone for his crime by seeking death on the battle field.
5. Kullervo's Death A haunting male chorus tells of Kullervo's death; he inadvertently comes to the site of his sister's ravishment, marked by dead grass and bare earth, where nature has refused to renew itself. He addresses his magic sword, asking if it will slay him; the sword answers, and he commits suicide.
The work runs something over an hour. The duration depends very much upon the conductor. Seven recent recordings range from 69 minutes, 48 seconds to 80 minutes, 46 seconds in length.
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