Few
composers have enjoyed such critical acclaim – or longevity – as Jean
Sibelius, who died in 1957 aged 91. Always more than simply a Finnish
national figure, an ‘apparition from the woods’ as he ironically described
himself, Sibelius’s life spanned turbulent and tumultuous events, and his
work is central to the story of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century
music. Now in paperback, this book situates Sibelius within a rich
interdisciplinary environment, paying attention to his relationship with
architecture, literature, politics and the visual arts. Drawing on the latest
developments in Sibelius research, it is an accessible and rewarding
introduction for the general reader, and also offers a fresh and provocative
interpretation for those more familiar with his music.