Sibelius/ Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir - Complete Works for Mixed Choir

The 150th Anniversary of the birth of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), often called "Finland's national composer", is to be celebrated in 2015. The fourth album on Ondine by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is dedicated to the composer's complete works for mixed choir. The award-winning choir, one of the finest of it's kind internationally, is conducted here by leading Finnish choir director Heikki Seppänen. Choral music was a genre in which Sibelius showed interest from his student days to the end of his career. This double-disc set includes patriotic works, works closely connected to the Finnish national epic Kalevala, student works, Christmas songs, works based on Finnish poetry, works written for school (including Three Songs for American Schools) as well as works written for academic promotions, inauguration ceremonies and different official occasions. It also includes two versions of the famous Finlandia Hymn. The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir's first Ondine release was given an 'Editor's Choice' by the Gramophone Magazine and 'Disc of the Year' by German weekly Die Zeit.