Celebrating Sibelius in 2015

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of legendary Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, numerous special events will be held in Helsinki in 2015.

Follow in the Path of Sibelius

The most important places and moments in the life of Sibelius have been collected together to form a Path of Sibelius travel route that reflects his path through life. The Path of Sibelius also provides an opportunity to catch a glimpse of Sibelius-era Finland, its colourful history and the landscapes that inspired the composer.

Sibelius moved to Helsinki to study in 1885. He achieved his greatest artistic triumphs in the Finnish capital, as well as starting a family and simply enjoying the joys of life. Helsinki is filled with memories of Sibelius. Places connected to the life of Sibelius include the Great Hall of the University of Helsinki, the Esplanade and Kallio Cathedral.

The route also includes Hämeenlinna, where the composer was born, Loviisa, where he spent his early summers, and Tuusula, where he composed most of his works and lived up until his death in 1957.

Helsinki’s trees play the music of Sibelius

During the anniversary year you can listen to Sibelius piano music also in eight of Helsinki's parks.

Sibelius composed piano pieces for five Finnish tree species: the spruce, pine, birch, aspen and rowan tree. The City of Helsinki’s Public Works Department has placed special plaques with QR codes next to the trees that play Sibelius that can be found in eight parks: Kaivopuisto (Eira), Hesperian puisto (Töölö), Sibeliuksen puisto (Töölö), Itsenäisyydenpuisto (Oulunkylä), Ullaksenpuisto (Vuosaari) Meilahden arboretum (Meilahti), Seurasaari and Maunulanpuisto.

The QR codes can be read using a mobile device with a QR reader app, which opens a music file with a song composed by Sibelius for the tree in question.

Anniversary events in Helsinki

The Finnish National Opera honours Sibelius with two pieces. With choreography by Tero Saarinen, Kullervo combines the music of Sibelius with the tale from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala. On stage in May the narrative of Roald Dahl and the music of Sibelius will meet in the musical story Sibelius as Storyteller, a concert for the whole family (narrated in Finnish).

The exhibition Music! Echoes from the past of a City at Helsinki City Museum's Hakasalmi Villa presents the past and the current diversity of music in Helsinki. During the exhibition the hall of the museum will be turned into a concert venue where you can enjoy music-related programme i.a. matinee concerts every Sunday starting from 19 March.

Sibelius Academy, the music academy where Jean Sibelius studied composition and violin from 1885 to 1889, will organise several Sibelius-themed concerts to celebrate the anniversary year during spring.

Opening in May in the heart of Helsinki at Erottaja the new Culture Salon (Kulttuurisalonki) will participate in the anniversary year celebrations with the music show Sibelius Finlandia that interprets works of Sibelius through musical theatre. Performances will run from May until September.

The Academic Bookstore in the centre of Helsinki celebrates the anniversary with a photography exhibition Sibelius and Images of Finland that can be seen on the third floor of the bookstore throughout the year.

Sibelius Finland Experience is a series of concerts in which the music of Jean Sibelius meets with fascinating visual imagery at the Helsinki Music Centre. The concerts are performed daily during 8 June – 9 August.

The World of Jean Sibelius is a musical exhibition for the whole family revealing also the composer's relationship to Helsinki. The exhibition can be seen at Virka Gallery on 10 June – 6 September 2015.

The National Museum of Finland will open its own Sibelius exhibition "One must live every note" on 16 October. The exhibition is an introduction to the life of Jean Sibelius through his music and compositions displaying i.a. original music manuscripts, concert programmes, posters and letters as well suits and dresses and other artefacts that belonged to Jean and Aino Sibelius.

The anniversary year will also feature the 11th International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition, which has been held since 1965. The competition takes place at the end of the year and is being organised this year by the Sibelius Society and Sibelius Academy. The final round will be held on 1–3 December at Helsinki Music Centre and will feature the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

More of the Sibelius 150 anniversary year events »