The London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas Beechan ), Bt.: Overture, La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie) (.R<M!/K;)
The Walther Straram Orchestra. conducted by Walther Straram : Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune (The Afternoon of a Faun) (De&UMT)
The Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Kajanus : Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39 ' (Sibelius)—1. Andante ma non troppo, Allegro energico; 2. Andante; 3. Scherzo ; 4. Finale
The Symphony in E minor, written in , t8oQ, was not actually Sibelius's first symphony, for as early as 1803 he had written a choral symphony, ' Kutlervo '. But ' Kullervo ' has never been published, and is not reckoned in the list of the composer's symphonic compositions.
When Sibelius wrote his E minor Symphony at thirty-four he had not yet comp)eteiy found his own way.
** The Symphony is far less austere, far more easily approachable, than his tater, more mature works. But though romantic and colourful in a vein that Sibelius has long abandoned, it could have been written by no one but he. The striking, passionate chief theme of the first movement, the haunting simplicity of the slow movement, the grim scherzo, the magnificent finale— all bear the stamp of Sibelius's unique mentality.