Jean Sibelius - Violin Concerto; Lemminkäinen Suite (Ava Bahari; Santtu-Matias Rouvali)

Information

Composer: Jean Sibelius

• Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
• Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22

Ava Bahari, violin

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

Santtu-Matias Rouvali, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Alpha Classics

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Chief conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali continues his acclaimed Sibelius cycle with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra on Alpha Classics, following award-winning recordings of the composer’s symphonies and symphonic poems. This release features Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with Swedish violinist Ava Bahari, artist in residence with the orchestra and an ECHO Rising Star for 2026/2027. The collaboration reflects a shared artistic affinity for Sibelius, whose concerto stands as a landmark in the violin repertoire, blending soloist and orchestra in close integration. The recording also includes Four Legends of Lemminkäinen, highlighting Sibelius’ early symphonic innovation and narrative orchestral style rooted in Finnish mythology.

Ava Bahari, born in Gothenburg in 1996, is a Swedish violinist who began playing at the age of three and gave her first solo performance at eight in the Gothenburg Concert Hall. She gained early recognition as a teenage musical prodigy and went on to study at leading European institutions, including the Oslo Academy of Music, the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin, and the Accademia Stauffer in Cremona. Awarded prizes at major international competitions, she has performed with prominent orchestras and conductors across Europe and beyond. Her career includes collaborations with leading artists, solo recitals on historic instruments, and appearances with major international symphony orchestras.

Santtu-Matias Rouvali (b. 1985) has been Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra since 2021, only the sixth to hold the post since its founding in 1945. A Finnish conductor and former percussionist, Santtu leads the orchestra across its UK residencies and major international tours, with highlights including a 2025 US tour to mark the Philharmonia’s 80th anniversary. Renowned for dynamic programming and charismatic performances, he has championed Nordic and American repertoire and even performed on drum kit and percussion with the orchestra. He was Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony (2017–2025) and is Honorary Conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic.

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