Programme Index

Discover 11,128,835 listings and 278,064 playable programmes from the BBC

Symphony No. 4, in A minor played by BBC Orchestra
(Section B)
Leader, Paul Beard
Conducted by Leslie Heward
Sibelius's Symphony No. 4, in A minor was composed in 1911. Technically it remains one of the most astounding achievements in modern music. Despite the fact that Sibelius invents no new form nor system of harmony, nor actual method of orchestration, the work as a whole is entirely original in conception: the colouring is as stark as the material, and the treatment is concentrated and intense.
Those who judge a symphony by rule-of-thumb methods will be sorely disappointed, but those who have imagination and real understanding will realise that they are listening to a work which may one day be recognised as a landmark in the history of music as great as Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, of which Sibelius's Fourth is a true descendant.

Contributors

Leader:
Paul Beard
Conducted By:
Leslie Heward

BBC Home Service Basic

About BBC Home Service

BBC Home Service is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 1st September 1939 and ended on the 29th September 1967.

Appears in

Suggest an Edit

We are trying to reflect the information printed in the Radio Times magazine.

  • Press the 'Suggest an Edit' button
  • Type in any changes to the title, synopsis or contributor information using the Radio Times Style Guide for reference.
  • Click the Submit Edits button.
    Your changes will be sent for verification and if accepted, will appear in due course More