"My symphony stands as a protest against the present-day music. It has nothing, absolutely nothing of the circus about it."
Jean Sibelius
What a joy it was to watch and listen to Sir Simon Rattle conduct his Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra last Sunday, when the French/German television channel ARTE broadcast the Lucerne Festival concert from August 28!
At least for this listener the absolute highlight of the concert was Sibelius's Fourth Symphony. It is by no means an "easy listening" piece, but it contains some of the most moving and beautiful music ever composed for an orchestra - when performed by a good enough orchestra and conductor. In this regard, the combination Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon is second to none! They radiate the kind of absolute concentration and precision that is required to produce musical perfection!
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