Sibelius Violin Concerto

Sibelius once hoped to become a concert violinist, and that ambition shows throughout his only concerto. The Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 premiered in 1904 and was revised the following year. The solo violin enters over a hush of muted strings. The slow movement is among the most heartfelt in the repertoire, and the driving finale was famously described by the critic Donald Tovey as “a polonaise for polar bears.” Aria Volenne performs the concerto with The Centennial Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marta Lindqvist in Boston’s historic Symphony Hall, renowned worldwide for its exceptional acoustics. The program also includes works by Mozart and Vivaldi.