thumb|upright|An 12 April 1896 advertisement from [[Uusi Suometar (in Finnish) promoting the premiere of Sibelius's Lemminkäinen Suite. Note that The Swan of Tuonela is listed in its original position of No. 3.]]

250px|thumb|[[Akseli Gallen-Kallela's 1897 Lemminkäisen äiti (Lemminkäinen's Mother), showing the mother with her slain son from the Swan of Tuonela story.]]

The Swan of Tuonela (in Finnish: ), Op. 22/2 (originally Op. 22/3), is a single-movement tone poem for cor anglais solo and orchestra written from 1893 to 1895 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It is part of the Lemminkäinen Suite, a collection of four tone poems based on legends from the Kalevala, Finland's national epic. The work was recorded for the first time by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra in May 1929.

The British premiere of the piece was on 31 August 1905 at the Promenade Concerts at Queen's Hall, conducted by Henry Wood.

Instrumentation

The Swan of Tuonela is scored for the following instruments, organized by family (woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings):

  • Soloist: cor anglais
  • 1 oboes, 1 bass clarinet (in B), and 2 bassoons
  • 4 horns (in F) and 3 trombones
  • Timpani and bass drum
  • Violins (I and II), violas, cellos, double basses, and harp

The cor anglais is the voice of the swan, and its solo is one of the best known solos in the orchestral literature for that instrument. The string section is divided.

Structure

The music paints a gossamer, transcendental image of a mystical swan floating through Tuonela, the realm of the dead. , the hero of the epic, has been tasked with killing the sacred swan, but on the way he is shot with a poisoned arrow and dies. In the next part of the story he is restored to life.

The piece has the tempo marking of Andante molto sostenuto and is in time. It is in the key of A minor.

</score>

Discography

The British conductor Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra made the world premiere studio recording of The Swan of Tuonela in 1929 for His Master's Voice.

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-right:0; font-size:95%"

!scope="col"|

!scope="col"|Conductor

!scope="col"|Orchestra

!scope="col"|Cor anglais

!scope="col"|

!scope="col"|Time

!scope="col"|Recording venue

!scope="col"|Label

!scope="col"class="unsortable"|

|-

!scope="row"|1

|&nbsp;(1)

|Philadelphia Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|

|1929<!--May 3-->

|8:33<!--CD notes-->

|[]

|Guild Historical

|

|-

!scope="row"|2

|

|Chicago Symphony Orchestra

|[]

|

|?<!--LP notes-->

|?

|Columbia Masterworks

|

|-

!scope="row"|3

|&nbsp;(1)

|Philadelphia Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|[]

|1940<!--Oct. 20-->

|8:21<!--CD notes-->

|Academy of Music, Philadelphia

|RCA Red Seal

|

|-

!scope="row"|4

|&nbsp;(1)

|NBC Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|[]

|1940<!--Dec. 7-->

|9:54<!--CD notes-->

|Rockefeller Center

|Naxos Historical

|

|-

!scope="row"|5

|&nbsp;(2)

|NBC Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|[]

|1944<!--Aug. 27; sam as RCA Victor Gold Seal GD 60294-->

|9:19<!--CD notes-->

|Studio 8H, New York

|RCA Red Seal

|

|-

!scope="row"|6

|&nbsp;(3)

|New York Philharmonic&nbsp;(1)

|[]

|1945<!--Jan. (Nov.?) 13; live recording at public gala concert; also History – 204576-308 & Iron Needle – IN 1335-->

|9:47<!--CD notes-->

|Carnegie Hall

|Guild Historical

|

|-

!scope="row"|7

|&nbsp;(2)

|Philadelphia Orchestra&nbsp;(3)

|

|1950<sup>†</sup><!--Apr. 2-->

|9:44<!--CD notes-->

|Academy of Music, Philadelphia

|Sony Classical

|

|-

!scope="row"|8

|

|Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra

|?<!--Name is on record, but I cannot read the image ... need higher resolution; name doesn't appear on any other issues, including all of the Capitol Records.-->

|1952<sup>†</sup><!--?-->

|6:57<!--Discogs-->

|?

|Metronome

|

|-

!scope="row"|9

|

|Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra

|

|1953<sup>†</sup><!--July 6-->

|7:38<!--CD notes-->

|Danish Radio Concert Hall (old)

|Decca

|

|-

!scope="row"|10

|

|Berlin Philharmonic&nbsp;(1)

|&nbsp;(1)

|1954<!--Nov.-->

|7:46<!--CD notes-->

|

|Deutsche Grammophon

|

|-

!scope="row"|11

|&nbsp;(1)

|Hallé Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|

|1955<!--Jan. 12-13-->

|8:30<!--CD notes-->

|Free Trade Hall

|Warner Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|12

|

|London Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|[]

|1956<!--June-->

|9:45<!--CD notes-->

|Walthamstow Assembly Hall

|Omega Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|13

|

|London Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|[]

|

|?<!--LP notes-->

|?

|MGM

|

|-

!scope="row"|14

|&nbsp;(2)

|Leopold Stokowski Orchestra

|

|1957<!--Jan. 22 & 29 & Feb. 5, 8, & 15-->

|7:55<!--CD notes-->

|Riverside Plaza Hotel

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|15

|

|Royal Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|

|1957<!--Sep. & Dec.-->

|8:24<!--CD notes-->

|Walthamstow Assembly Hall

|Beulah

|

|-

!scope="row"|16

|&nbsp;(3)

|Philadelphia Orchestra&nbsp;(4)

|&nbsp;(1)

|1960<!--Jan. 31; same as Sony Classical – 19439977432; same as Sony Classical – 88875108582; same as Sony Classical – 88697689752-->

|9:50<!--CD notes-->

|Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia

|Sony Classical

|

|-

!scope="row"|17

|

|Vienna Philharmonic

|

|1961<!--Nov. 16-18-->

|9:00<!--CD notes-->

|Musikverein

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|18

|

|Morton Gould Orchestra

|

|1962<!--Nov. 17-->

|8:33<!--Discogs-->

|Manhattan Center

|RCA Red Seal

|

|-

!scope="row"|19

|&nbsp;(1)

|Berlin Philharmonic&nbsp;(2)

|&nbsp;(2)

|1965<!--Feb. 5 & 9-->

|7:42<!--CD notes-->

|

|Deutsche Grammophon

|

|-

!scope="row"|20

|

|Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra

|[]

|1965<!--Feb. 23; live recording-->

|9:33<!--CD notes-->

|Grand Hall, Moscow Conservatory

|Scribendum

|

|-

!scope="row"|21

|&nbsp;(2)

|Hallé Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|

|1966<!--Jan. 23-->

|7:51<!--CD notes-->

|Abbey Road Studio No.&nbsp;1

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|22

|

|Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|

|1968<sup>†</sup><!--Mar.-->

|8:41<!--LP notes-->

|Kleinhans Music Hall

|Nonesuch

|

|-

!scope="row"|23

|&nbsp;(1)

|Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

|

|1972<!--Jan. 9-10-->

|8:46<!--CD notes-->

|Southampton Guildhall

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|24

|&nbsp;(4)

|Philadelphia Orchestra&nbsp;(5)

|&nbsp;(2)

|1973<!--Jan. 15; same as RCA – 6528-2-RG; same as RCA Victor Silver Seal – VD 60489; same as Sony Classical – 88875108582-->

|9:48<!--Discogs-->

|Scottish Rite Cathedral, Philadelphia

|RCA Victor Silver Seal

|

|-

!scope="row"|25

|

|New York Philharmonic&nbsp;(2)

|

|1973<!--Mar. 8-->

|9:55<!--Discogs-->

|CBS 30th Street Studio

|Sony Classical

|

|-

!scope="row"|26

|

|Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra

|[]

|1973<sup>†</sup><!--June 14; per Decca website-->

|8:09<!--Discogs-->

|Budapest Recording Studios

|Decca

|

|-

!scope="row"|27

|

|Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

|<!--Not credited on CD, but credited on HMV LP (ASD 3092)-->

|1974<sup>†</sup><!--Aug.-->

|7:43<!--CD notes-->

|Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|28

|

|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(1)<!--Listed as "Helsinki" RSO-->

|<!--per LP DG 2530 656-->

|1975<sup>†</sup><!--Oct.-->

|8:23<!--CD notes-->

|Finlandia Hall

|Deutsche Grammophon

|

|-

!scope="row"|29

|&nbsp;(3)

|National Philharmonic Orchestra

|

|1976<!--"2/4/5"-->

|8:14<!--CD notes-->

|West Ham Central Mission

|Sony Classical

|

|-

!scope="row"|30

|&nbsp;(1)

|Boston Symphony Orchestra

|

|1976<!--Dec.-->

|9:19<!--CD notes-->

|Symphony Hall, Boston

|Decca Records

|

|-

!scope="row"|31

|&nbsp;(2)

|Berlin Philharmonic&nbsp;(3)

|&nbsp;(3)

|1976<!--Dec 27-28.; also Warner Classics – 0825646336197-->

|8:27<!--CD notes-->

|Berlin Philharmonie

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|32

|&nbsp;(5)

|Philadelphia Orchestra&nbsp;(6)

|&nbsp;(3)

|1978<sup>†</sup><!--Feb. 20-->

|9:03<!--CD notes-->

|The Old Met, Philadelphia

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|33

|&nbsp;(1)

|Scottish National Orchestra

|

|1978<sup>†</sup><!--No dd/mm details; May 1 according to MuicBrainz-->

|8:16<!--CD notes-->

|Usher Hall

|Chandos

|

|-

!scope="row"|34

|

|L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

|[]

|1980<sup>†</sup><!--Jan. 25-27-->

|7:24<!--CD notes-->

|Victoria Hall

|Decca

|

|-

!scope="row"|35

|&nbsp;(2)

|Philharmonia Orchestra

|&nbsp;(1)

|1982<!--May 24-25-->

|9:40<!--CD notes-->

|St. John's, Smith Square

|EMI

|

|-

!scope="row"|36

|&nbsp;(3)

|Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra

|

|1983<!--no mm/dd details provided in liner notes-->

|9:02<!--CD notes-->

|<!--MusicBrainz-->

|Brilliant Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|37

|&nbsp;(3)

|Berlin Philharmonic&nbsp;(4)

|&nbsp;(4)

|1984<!--Feb. 19-24-->

|7:50<!--CD notes-->

|Berlin Philharmonie

|Deutsche Grammophon

|

|-

!scope="row"|38

|

|Academy of St Martin in the Fields

|

|1984<!--Oct.-->

|8:17<!--CD notes-->

|[], London

|Philips

|

|-

!scope="row"|39

|&nbsp;(1)

|Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|&nbsp;(1)

|1985<sup>†</sup><!--Feb. 4-5-->

|8:49<!--CD notes-->

|Gothenburg Concert Hall

|BIS

|

|-

!scope="row"|40

|

|Czechoslovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

|[]

|1988<!--Feb. 5-9-->

|7:49<!--CD notes-->

|Czechoslovak Radio Concert Hall

|Naxos

|

|-

!scope="row"|41

|

|London Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|&nbsp;(2)

|1988<!--July 5-6-->

|9:47<!--CD notes-->

|Abbey Road Studio No.&nbsp;1

|Regis

|

|-

!scope="row"|42

|&nbsp;(2)

|Royal Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|[]

|1989<sup>†</sup><!--Aug.-->

|9:15<!--Discogs-->

|St John's, Smith Square

|Collins Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|43

|&nbsp;(1)

|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|[]<!--likely, but can't find liner notes-->

|1989<sup>†</sup><!--Sept. 19-21-->

|8:53<!--CD notes-->

|Kulttuuritalo

|RCA Red Seal

|

|-

!scope="row"|44

|

|Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

|

|1991<sup>†</sup><!--Apr. 22-23-->

|9:27<!--CD notes-->

|Royce Hall

|Sony Classical

|

|-

!scope="row"|45

|

|Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

|

|1991<sup>†</sup><!--Sept./Dec.-->

|7:58<!--CD notes-->

|Mosfilm Studios

|Brilliant Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|46

|

|Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

|

|1992<!--Feb. 8 & May 16 & 18-->

|8:17<!--CD notes-->

|Woodruff Arts Center

|Telarc

|

|-

!scope="row"|47

|

|Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra

|

|1992<!--May-->

|8:35<!--CD notes-->

|Oslo Concert Hall

|EMI Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|48

|

|Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège

|

|1995<sup>†</sup><!--Jan.-->

|7:13<!--CD notes-->

|Royal Conservatory of Liège

|Auvidis

|

|-

!scope="row"|49

|

|Turku Philharmonic Orchestra

|[]

|1995<!--Sep. 6-8-->

|8:37<!--CD notes-->

|Turku Concert Hall

|Naxos

|

|-

!scope="row"|50

|

|Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|

|1995<sup>†</sup><!--Oct.-->

|9:56<!--CD notes-->

|

|Ondine

|

|-

!scope="row"|51

|

|Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|

|1996<sup>†</sup><!--Feb. 1-3-->

|9:49<!--CD notes-->

|Stockholm Concert Hall

|Virgin Classics

|

|-

!scope="row"|52

|&nbsp;(1)

|Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|[]

|1996<!--Feb.-Mar.-->

|8:17<!--CD notes-->

|Stockholm Concert Hall

|Finlandia

|

|-

!scope="row"|53

|&nbsp;(2)

|Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|&nbsp;(2)

|1996<sup>†</sup><!--Apr. & May-->

|7:37<!--CD notes-->

|Gothenburg Concert Hall

|Deutsche Grammophon

|

|-

!scope="row"|54

|

|Royal Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(3)

|

|1996<!--May-->

|8:18<!--CD notes-->

|CTS Studios, Wembley

|Intersound

|

|-

!scope="row"|55

|

|Iceland Symphony Orchestra

|

|1997<sup>†</sup><!--May 28-31 & Nov. 25-->

|9:07<!--CD notes-->

|University Hall, Reykjavík

|Naxos

|

|-

!scope="row"|56

|&nbsp;(2)

|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(3)

|

|1998<sup>†</sup><!--Jan. 16; live performance-->

|8:26<!--CD notes-->

|Konzerthaus, Vienna

|Classica

|

|-

!scope="row"|57

|&nbsp;(3)

|Toronto Symphony Orchestra

|[]<!--likely, but can't find liner notes-->

|1998<sup>†</sup><!--Sep.-->

|9:02<!--CD notes-->

|Massey Hall

|Finlandia

|

|-

!scope="row"|58

|&nbsp;(1)

|Lahti Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(1)

|&nbsp;(1)

|1999<sup>†</sup><!--Jan. 11-15-->

|9:27<!--CD notes-->

|Ristinkirkko

|BIS

|

|-

!scope="row"|59

|

|Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

|

|1999<sup>†</sup><!--Dec.-->

|10:11<!--CD notes-->

|Berwald Hall

|Ondine

|

|-

!scope="row"|60

|&nbsp;(2)

|London Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(3)

|[]

|2000<sup>†</sup><!--Jan. 17-19-->

|10:53<!--CD notes-->

|Watford Colosseum

|RCA Red Seal

|

|-

!scope="row"|61

|

|Estonian-Finnish Symphony Orchestra

|

|2001<!--July 2000 & June 2001, per MusicWeb International-->

|9:02<!--CD notes-->

|Estonia Concert Hall<!--MusicWeb-->

|Finlandia

|

|-

!scope="row"|62

|

|Minnesota Orchestra

|

|2002<!--May 1-2, per MusicBrainz-->

|9:30<!--CD notes-->

|Orchestral Hall, Minneapolis

|Reference Recordings

|

|-

!scope="row"|63

|

|

|

|2004<!--Jan. 31 & Sep. 17-->

|8:27<!--per Discogs ... cannot find CD notes-->

|Ristinkirkko

|Potentia Sinfonica

|

|-

!scope="row"|64

|&nbsp;(4)

|London Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|

|2006<!--Sep. 22; live performance-->

|9:12<!--CD notes-->

|Queen Elizabeth Hall

|LPO

|

|-

!scope="row"|65

|

|Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(3)

|

|2007<!--Apr. 25-29, 2006 & Jan. 30-31 & Feb. 1-3 2007-->

|8:45<!--CD notes-->

|Stockholm Concert Hall

|

|

|-

!scope="row"|66

|&nbsp;(2)

|Lahti Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|&nbsp;(2)

|2007<sup>†</sup><!--Nov. 2006 & Oct. 2007-->

|9:10<!--CD notes-->

|Sibelius Hall

|BIS

|

|-

!scope="row"|67

|

|BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

|

|2009<!--Jan. 22; live performance-->

|8:45<!--CD notes-->

|Glasgow City Halls

|BBC Music Magazine

|

|-

!scope="row"|68

|&nbsp;(2)

|Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

|

|2013<!--June 17-20-->

|8:16<!--CD notes-->

|Grieg Hall

|Chandos

|

|-

!scope="row"|69

|

|Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra&nbsp;(4)

|[]

|2014<sup>†</sup><!--Oct. 17, 20, & 22-->

|9:07<!--CD notes-->

|Helsinki Music Centre

|Ondine

|

|-

!scope="row"|70

|

|Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|

|2014<!--Dec. 6-7; live performance-->

|10:14<!--CD notes-->

|Kleinhans Music Hall

|Beau Fleuve

|

|-

!scope="row"|71

|

|Berlin Philharmonic&nbsp;(5)

|

|2014<!--Dec. 14; per Supraphon website-->

|8:57<!--CD notes-->

|Great Hall, Berliner Philharmonie<!--per Supraphon website-->

|Supraphon

|

|-

!scope="row"|72

|

|BBC Symphony Orchestra

|<!--Discogs-->

|2018<sup>†</sup><!--May 22–23-->

|8:52<!--Discogs-->

|Watford Colosseum

|Chandos

|

|-

!scope="row"|73

|

|BBC National Orchestra of Wales

|

|2018<!--Nov. 27–29, 2017 & Feb. 5, 2018-->

|9:12<!--CD notes-->

|BBC Hoddinott Hall

|Linn

|

|-

!scope="row"|74

|

|Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra&nbsp;(2)

|

|2023<sup>†</sup><!--Feb. 13-16-->

|9:43<!--CD notes-->

|Helsinki Music Centre

|BIS

|

|}

<!--

OMIT... There isn't enough available information on recording details

|

|Sofia National Opera Orchestra

|[]

|?

|8:31, CD notes

|?

|Classical Galley

|

OMIT... There isn't enough available information on recording details

|

|New Philharmonic Orchestra

|

|?

|8:07, CD notes

|?

|Decca

|

OMIT... There isn't enough available information on recording details

|

|

|[]

|?

|8:34, CD notes

|?

|Elap

|

-->

† = Part of a recording of the entire Lemminkäinen Suite

Notes

References