Help
Skip to main content
Basket 0 items, $0.00

US TARIFFS UPDATE | August 2025 | No impact expected on your Presto orders | Read full details

Special offer. The Essential Sibelius

A survey of the music of Jean Sibelius

Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Marko Ylönen (cello), Dong-Suk Kang (violin), Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo-soprano) & Raimo Laukka (baritone), Tommi Hakala (baritone), Stina Ekblad (narrator), Helena Juntunen (soprano), Monica Groop (mezzo-soprano) & Sauli Tiilikainen (baritone), Anne Sofie von Otter...

The Essential Sibelius

Awards:

Special offer. The Essential Sibelius

A survey of the music of Jean Sibelius

Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Marko Ylönen (cello), Dong-Suk Kang (violin), Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo-soprano) & Raimo Laukka (baritone), Tommi Hakala (baritone), Stina Ekblad (narrator), Helena Juntunen (soprano), Monica Groop (mezzo-soprano) & Sauli Tiilikainen (baritone), Anne Sofie von Otter...

Purchase product

15 CDs

Original price $99.00 Reduced price $79.20

This item is currently out of stock at the UK distributor. You may order it now but please be aware that it may be six weeks or more before it can be despatched.

Box Set Sale - Up to 40% off

Special offer ends: 07/01/2026

Stream now lossless, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit
Free 30 day trial

Awards:

About

This box offers a panoramic view of a composer who is all too often thought of as 'only' a great symphonist. The Essential Sibelius attempts to rectify this view by presenting a varied selection of all the genres pursued by the Finnish master: besides the seven symphonies, the box also includes the violin concerto, tone poems and theatre music as well as songs, choral pieces, chamber works and piano music.

Pride of place naturally goes to the orchestral works, however - the first four discs consist of the cycle of symphony recordings that made critics dub Osmo Vänskä and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra “the pre-eminent Sibelius interpreters of our day” when it was first released. The same performers share the task of presenting the other orchestral works - including Finlandia, Kullervo and the theatre music to The Tempest, to name but three - with the Gothenburg SO conducted by Neeme Järvi, in recordings that many consider the finest available of this music.

Participating artists include international soloists such as Leonidas Kavakos, whose performance of the violin concerto won a Gramophone Award, and Anne Sofie von Otter, whose interpretations of the songs set a never-surpassed standard, as well as Jorma Hynninen and Monica Groop, heading a field consisting of some of Finland's finest musicians. Again, universally acclaimed masterpieces such as the string quartet Voces intimae are juxtaposed with less well-known gems – including the world première recording of The Watersprite, a brief ‘melodrama’ for mezzo-soprano, narrator and piano trio.

In fact, of the more than 19 hours of music in this generous collection, a good one and a half hours consists of recent, previously unreleased recordings. The accompanying 132-page booklet contains an authoritative essay (in English, Finnish, German, French and Japanese) by Andrew Barnett, one of today's leading Sibelius experts, as well as all song texts (with English translations).

(15 discs for the price of 4)

Artists

Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Marko Ylönen (cello), Dong-Suk Kang (violin), Lilli Paasikivi (mezzo-soprano) & Raimo Laukka (baritone), Tommi Hakala (baritone), Stina Ekblad (narrator), Helena Juntunen (soprano), Monica Groop (mezzo-soprano) & Sauli Tiilikainen (baritone), Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) & Bengt Forsberg (piano), Jaakko Kuusisto (violin), Marko Ylönen (cello) & Folke Gräsbeck (piano), Jaakko Kuusisto (violin I), Laura Vikman (violin II), Anna Kreetta Gribajcevic (viola), Joel Laakso (cello) & Folke Gräsbeck (piano), Marko Ylönen (cello) & Folke Gräsbck (piano), Jaakko Kuusisto (violin) & Taneli Turunen (cello), Folke Gräsbeck (piano) & Harri Viitanen (harmonium), Jaakko Kuusisto (violin) & Folke Gräsbeck (piano), Torleif Thedéen (cello) & Folke Gräsbeck (piano), Nils-Erik Sparf (violin) & Bengt Forsberg (piano), Folke Gräsbeck (piano), Erik T. Tawaststjerna (piano)

Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki University Chorus, Lahti Boys’ Choir & Helsinki University Chorus, Dominante Choir, Jubilate Choir, Orphei Drängar, Tempera Quartet, Osmo Vänskä, Neeme Järvi, Matti Hyökki, Astrid Riska, Robert Sund

Contents and tracklist

Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39
Work length35:28
I. Andante, ma non troppo - Allegro energico
Track length9:50
II. Andante (ma non troppo lento)
Track length8:58
III. Scherzo. Allegro
Track length4:31
IV. Finale (Quasi una Fantasia): Andante - Allegro molto
Track length12:09
Sibelius: Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63
Work length40:05
I. Tempo molto moderato, quasi adagio
Track length11:40
II. Allegro molto vivace
Track length4:38
III. Il tempo largo
Track length14:06
IV. Allegro
Track length9:41
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
Work length45:09
I. Allegretto
Track length9:24
II. Tempo Andante, ma rubato
Track length14:30
III. Vivacissimo
Track length5:58
IV. Finale. Allegro moderato
Track length15:17
Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 52
Work length31:04
I. Allegro moderato
Track length10:24
II. Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto
Track length11:18
III. Moderato - Allegro (ma non tanto)
Track length9:22
Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82
Work length31:54
I. Tempo molto moderato - Allegro moderato
Track length13:29
II. Andante mosso, quasi allegretto
Track length8:47
III. Allegro molto - Largamente assai
Track length9:38
Sibelius: En Saga, Op. 9
Work length18:26
Sibelius: Pohjola's Daughter, Op. 49
Work length13:25
Sibelius: 2 Pieces from Kuolema, Op. 44
Work length4:46
Valse triste, Op. 44, No. 1
Track length4:46
Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
Work length8:41
Andante sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Allegro
Track length8:41
Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104
Work length27:21
I. Allegro molto moderato
Track length8:37
II. Allegretto moderato
Track length6:31
III. Poco vivace
Track length3:30
IV. Allegro molto
Track length8:43
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
Work length23:03
Sibelius: Tapiola, Op. 112
Work length17:54
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Work length35:20
I. Allegro moderato
Track length16:57
II. Adagio di molto
Track length10:07
III. Allegro ma non tanto
Track length8:16
Sibelius: Two Pieces, Op. 77 (Two 'Earnest Melodies')
Work length8:52
No. 1, Laetare anima mea
Track length5:14
No. 2, Ab imo pectore
Track length3:38
Sibelius: Two Serenades, Op. 69 for violin and orchestra
Work length13:25
No. 1 in D Major
Track length6:25
No. 2 in G Minor
Track length7:00
Sibelius: Two Humoresques Op. 87
Work length5:49
No. 1, Commodo (Revised 1940 Version)
Track length3:29
No. 2, Allegro assai
Track length2:20
Sibelius: Four Humoresques Op. 89
Work length14:40
No. 1 in G Minor
Track length4:12
No. 2 in G Minor
Track length4:05
No. 3 in E-Flat Major
Track length3:10
No. 4 in G Minor
Track length3:13
Sibelius: Kullervo, Op. 7
Work length1:20:43
I. Introduction. Allegro moderato
Track length12:57
II. Kullervo's Youth: Grave
Track length19:23
III. Kullervo and his Sister: Allegro vivace
Track length25:38
IV. Kullervo Goes to War: Alla marcia (Allegro molto) - Vivace - Presto
Track length10:13
V. Kullervo's Death: Andante
Track length12:32
Sibelius: The Wood-Nymph (Skogsrået), Op. 15
Work length22:00
Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
Work length49:16
I. Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island. Allegro molto moderato - Allegro moderato
Track length15:23
II. The Swan of Tuonela. Andante molto sostenuto
Track length9:31
III. Lemminkäinen in Tuonela. Il tempo largamente - Molto lento - Largo assai
Track length17:42
IV. Lemminkäinen's Return. Allegro con fuoco - Quasi presto - Presto
Track length6:40
Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Op. 11
Work length17:17
I. Intermezzo
Track length4:45
II. Ballade
Track length7:32
III. Alla marcia
Track length5:00
Sibelius: Scènes historiques I, Op. 25
Work length18:22
I. All' overtura
Track length4:44
II. Scena
Track length6:18
III. Festivo
Track length7:20
Sibelius: Atenarnes sång (Song of the Athenians), Op. 31 No. 3
Work length3:42
Atenarnes sang (Song of the Athenians), Op. 31, No. 3
Track length3:42
Sibelius: Tulen synty, Op. 32 (The Origin of Fire)
Work length9:14
Tulen Synty (Origin of Fire), Op. 32 [Revised Version]
Track length9:14
Sibelius: The Captive Queen, Op. 48
Work length9:30
Sibelius: Rakastava, Op. 14
Work length12:30
I. Rakastava
Track length4:11
II. Rakastetun tie
Track length2:31
III. Hyvää iltaa - Jaa hyvästi
Track length5:48
Sibelius: Andante festivo, JS34b
Work length5:38
Sibelius: King Kristian II, incidental music, Op. 27
Work length25:52
I. Nocturne
Track length7:45
II. Elegie
Track length5:29
III. Musette
Track length2:17
IV. Serenade
Track length4:48
V. Ballade
Track length5:33
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 1
Work length3:56
Prelude to Act I Scene 1, "At the Castle-gate" (Version for orchestra)
Track length3:56
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 2
Work length4:19
Prelude to Act I Scene 2, "Melisande" (Version for orchestra)
Track length4:19
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 2a
Work length1:49
Melodrama in Act I Scene 4, "At the seashore" (Version for orchestra)
Track length1:49
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 3
Work length2:31
Prelude to Act II Scene 1, "a Spring in the Park" (Version for orchestra)
Track length2:31
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 4
Work length2:35
Song in Act III Scene 2, de trenne blinda systrar (the 3 Blind Sisters) [Version for orchestra]
Track length2:35
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 5
Work length2:05
Melodrama in Act III Scene 4, "Pastorale" (Version for orchestra)
Track length2:05
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 6
Work length2:19
Prelude to Act III Scene 1, "Melisande at the Spinning Wheel" (Version for orchestra)
Track length2:19
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 7
Work length3:00
Prelude to Act IV Scene 1, "Entr'acte" (Version for orchestra)
Track length3:00
Sibelius: Pelléas and Mélisande Suite, Op. 46, No. 8
Work length6:25
Prelude to Act V Scene 2, "the Death of Melisande" (Version for orchestra)
Track length6:25
Sibelius: The Tempest - Suite No. 1, Op. 109 No. 2
Work length10:28
I. The Oak Tree
Track length2:31
II. Humoresque
Track length1:06
III. Caliban's song
Track length1:16
VII. Intrada - Berceuse
Track length2:14
VIII. Entr'acte. IX. Ariel's Song
Track length3:21
Sibelius: The Tempest, Suite No. 2, Op. 109
Work length10:47
I. Chorus of the Winds
Track length3:18
II. Intermezzo
Track length1:45
III. Dance of the Nymphs
Track length1:57
IV. Prospero
Track length1:43
VII. Miranda
Track length2:04
Sibelius: The Tempest - Suite No. 1, Op. 109 No. 2
Work length3:26
X. The Storm
Track length3:26
Sibelius: Snöfrid, Op. 29
Work length14:28
Snofrid, Op. 29
Track length14:28
Sibelius: The Bard, Op. 64
Work length7:43
The Bard, Op. 64
Track length7:43
Sibelius: The Oceanides, Op. 73
Work length10:17
Sibelius: Luonnotar, Op. 70 (Text: Kalevala)
Work length9:02
Sibelius: Six Songs from Op. 18
Work length5:34
No. 1, Sortunut ääni
Track length1:26
No. 3, Venemakta
Track length1:41
No. 6, Sydämeni laulu
Track length2:27
Sibelius: Rakastava, Op. 14
Work length7:05
Rakastava (the Lover), JS 160c
Track length7:05
Sibelius: Isänmaalle, JS 98a
Work length2:23
Isanmaalle [to the Fatherland], JS 98a
Track length2:23
Sibelius: Six Songs from Op. 18
Work length1:17
Saarella palaa (Fire on the island), Op. 18, No. 4 [arr. For mixed chorus]
Track length1:17
Sibelius: Songs (9), Op. 23
Work length1:33
No. 6a, Soi kiitoksesksi Luojan
Track length1:33
Sibelius: Two Songs, Op. 65
Work length4:49
Man fran slatten och havet (People of Land and Sea), Op. 65a
Track length4:49
Sibelius: Five Songs, Op. 84
Work length2:29
No. 5, Till havs
Track length2:29
Sibelius: Fridolins dårskap, JS 84
Work length2:34
Sibelius: Jone havsfärd, JS 100
Work length2:38
Sibelius: Jääkärien marssi (Jager March), Op. 91a [version for male chorus and orchestra]
Work length2:30
Jaakarien marssi [March of the Finnish Jager Battalion], Op. 91a
Track length2:30
Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26
Work length2:17
Excerpt,Sibelius: Six Songs, Op. 36
Work length7:07
No. 1, Svarta rosor
Track length2:01
No. 2, Men min fågel märks dock icke
Track length2:26
No. 4, Säv, säv, susa
Track length2:40
Excerpt,Sibelius: Seven Songs, Op. 17
Work length1:19
No. 6, Illalle
Track length1:19
Sibelius: Six Songs, Op. 50
Work length8:16
No. 3, Im Feld ein Mädchen singt
Track length3:04
No. 4, Aus banger Brust
Track length2:25
No. 5, Die stille Stadt
Track length2:47
Excerpt,Sibelius: Five Songs, Op. 37
Work length1:41
Varen flyktar hastigt (Spring Is Flying), Op. 13, No. 4
Track length1:41
Excerpt,Sibelius: Seven Songs, Op. 17
Work length2:00
Se'n har jag ej fragat mera (And I Questioned Then No Further), Op. 17, No. 1
Track length2:00
Excerpt,Sibelius: Five Songs, Op. 38
Work length4:35
Hostkvall [Autumn Evening], Op. 38, No. 1
Track length4:35
Sibelius: Arioso, Op. 3 (Text: J.L. Runeberg)
Work length3:55
Sibelius: Necken (The Watersprite, or The Elf-King) Op. 57 No. 8 (Josephson)
Work length3:28
Sibelius: Five Christmas Songs, Op. 1
Work length3:47
No. 4, Giv mig ej glans, ej guld, ej prakt
Track length3:47
Sibelius: Eight Songs, Op. 57
Work length5:08
No. 5, Jag är ett träd
Track length2:52
No. 8, Näcken
Track length2:16
Sibelius: Hymn to Thaïs (Text: Arthur H. Borgström)
Work length2:05
Sibelius: Six Songs, Op. 72
Work length3:17
No. 4, Kaiutar
Track length3:17
Sibelius: Six Songs, Op. 86
Work length5:30
No. 2, Längtan heter min arvedel
Track length3:17
No. 6, I systrar, I bröder, I älskande par!
Track length2:13
Excerpt,Sibelius: Six Songs, Op. 36
Work length3:07
Demanten pa marssnon [The Diamond on the March Snow], Op. 36, No. 6
Track length3:07
Sibelius: King Kristian II, Op. 27, No. 4. The Song of the Cross-spider (version for voice and orchestra)
Work length3:37
Kung Kristian II [King Christian II], Op. 27: Sangen om korsspindeln [Fool's Song of the Spider]
Track length3:37
Excerpt,Sibelius: Five Songs, Op. 38
Work length3:14
Pa verandan vid havet [On a Balcony by the Sea], Op. 38, No. 2
Track length3:14
Sibelius: 2 Songs from Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', Op. 60
Work length2:56
Trettondagsafton [Twelfth Night], Op. 60: Kom nu hit, Dod [Come away, Death]
Track length2:56
Sibelius: Souda, souda sinisorsa, JS 180
Work length1:19
Sibelius: Six Songs, Op. 90
Work length2:11
No. 1, Norden
Track length2:11
Sibelius: Narciss (Narcissus) (B. Gripenberg)
Work length2:05
Excerpt,Sibelius: Five Songs, Op. 37
Work length7:08
No. 1, Den första kyssen
Track length1:58
No. 4, Var det en dröm?
Track length2:05
No. 5, Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte
Track length3:05
Sibelius: Tanken, JS 192
Work length1:36
Sibelius: String Quartet in C-Sharp Minor, I. Moderato, Allegro appassionato
Work length10:46
  • Tempera Quartet
I. Moderato: Allegro appassionato in C-Sharp Minor
Track length10:46
Sibelius: String Quartet in A minor
Work length34:50
  • Tempera Quartet
I. Andante: Allegro
Track length11:14
II. Adagio ma non tanto
Track length8:38
III. Vivace
Track length5:47
IV. Allegro
Track length9:11
Sibelius: String Quartet in D minor, Op. 56 'Voces Intimae'
Work length30:18
  • Tempera Quartet
I. Andante - Allegro molto moderato
Track length5:54
II. Vivace
Track length2:21
III. Adagio di molto
Track length10:59
IV. Allegretto (ma pesante)
Track length5:37
V. Allegro
Track length5:27
Sibelius: Piano trio in D major ‘Korpo', JS209
Work length36:00
I. Allegro moderato
Track length10:57
II. Fantasia
Track length15:31
III. Finale
Track length9:32
Sibelius: Piano Quintet in G minor
Work length39:10
I. Grave - Allegro
Track length11:00
II. Intermezzo. Moderato
Track length5:25
III. Andante
Track length9:24
IV. Scherzo. Vivacissimo
Track length3:23
V. Moderato - Vivace
Track length9:58
Sibelius: La pompeuse Marche d’Asis, JS116
Work length3:51
Sibelius: Vattendroppar, JS 216 (Water Drops)
Work length0:55
Sibelius: Andante cantabile in E flat major, JS30B for piano and harmonium
Work length4:25
Sibelius: Andante cantabile in G Major
Work length2:38
Sibelius: Sonata in F major, JS 178 (1889)
Work length25:29
I. Allegro
Track length11:18
II. Andante
Track length6:03
III. Vivace
Track length8:08
Sibelius: Malinconia, Op. 20
Work length12:59
Sibelius: Four Pieces, Op. 78
Work length11:30
I. Impromptu (Version for violin and piano)
Track length1:46
II. Romance in F Major (Version for violin and piano)
Track length3:28
III. Religioso (Version for violin and piano)
Track length4:07
IV. Rigaudon (Version for violin and piano)
Track length2:09
Sibelius: Sonatina in E major, Op. 80
Work length12:14
I. Lento - Allegro
Track length3:55
II. Andantino
Track length3:58
III. Lento - Allegretto
Track length4:21
Sibelius: Five Danses Champêtres, Op. 106
Work length7:39
I. Largamente assai - Vivace
Track length5:08
II. Alla polacca
Track length2:31
Sibelius: Florestan. Suite for Piano, JS 82 (1889)
Work length10:22
I. Moderato
Track length1:37
II. Molto moderato
Track length2:24
III. Andante
Track length4:08
IV. Tempo I
Track length2:13
Sibelius: Six Impromptus, Op. 5
Work length3:41
No. 5 in B Minor
Track length3:41
Sibelius: Sonata in F major, Op. 12
Work length17:12
I. Allegro molto
Track length5:55
II. Andantino
Track length7:00
III. Vivacissimo
Track length4:17
Excerpt,Sibelius: Ten Piano Pieces, Op. 24
Work length4:06
Romance in D-Flat Major, Op. 24, No. 9
Track length4:06
Sibelius: Kylikki, Three Lyric Pieces, Op. 41
Work length11:12
I. Largamente - Allegro
Track length3:10
II. Andantino
Track length4:33
III. Commodo
Track length3:29
Sibelius: Piano Sonatina in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 67, No. 1
Work length7:24
I. Allegro
Track length2:33
II. Largo
Track length2:58
III. Allegro moderato
Track length1:53
Sibelius: Piano Sonatina in B-Flat Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
Work length1:56
I. Allegro
Track length1:56
Sibelius: Three Sonatinas, Op. 67: No. 2 in E major
Work length3:53
II. Andantino
Track length2:21
III. Allegro
Track length1:32
Sibelius: Piano Sonatina in B-Flat Minor, Op. 67, No. 2
Work length6:35
I. Andante - Allegro moderato
Track length3:01
II. Andante - Allegro
Track length3:34
Excerpt,Sibelius: Five Pieces, Op. 75 'The Trees'
Work length5:15
The Solitary Fir
Track length2:09
The Spruce
Track length3:06
Sibelius: 5 Romantic Pieces, Op. 101, Scene romantique
Work length3:43
Sibelius: Five Characteristic Impressions, Op. 103
Work length3:15
The Village Church, Op. 103, No. 1
Track length3:15

Awards and reviews

View download progress

Download queue