Turku Philharmonic Orchestra & Leif Segerstam - Sibelius: Scaramouche (2015) [Hi-Res]

The eloquent power of Jean Sibelius's symphonies and other core orchestral works has overshadowed his prolific output in other genres, including significant scores for the theatre. The commission to compose music for the tragic pantomime Scaramouche caused Sibelius much stress and frustration, but on its première the composer was able to note "great success in Copenhagen" in his diary. With the exception of his one opera, Scaramouche is Sibelius's only continuous dramatic score, the story of the sinister hunchbacked dwarf's bewitching musicianship and evil intent taking us from innocent charm to a nightmarish conclusion.

Leif Segerstam is a conductor, composer, violinist and pianist with a prominent international career. Since 2012 he has been Chief Conductor of Turku Philharmonic Orchestra. From autumn 1997 to spring 2013 Leif Segerstam was Professor of Orchestra Conducting at the Sibelius Academy. He was awarded the 1999 Nordic Council Music Prize for his work "as a tireless champion of Scandinavian music" and the Swedish Cultural Foundation's Prize for Music in 2003. In 2004 Leif Segerstam was awarded the annual Finnish State Prize for Music and in 2005 the highly esteemed Sibelius Medal.

He has gained wide acclaim for his many recordings with different orchestras. While pursuing his conducting career, Segerstam has also produced an extensive oeuvre as a composer.