Jean Sibelius King Christian II ~ Suite op. 27 Incidental Music To Adolf Paul’s Play, op. 27 (1898) Nocturne 00:00 Élégie 07:35 Musette 13:38 Sérénade 15:48 Ballade 20:23 New Finnish Symphony Orchestra Jan Engstrom, conductor Painting: Edward Burne-Jones, The Lament, 1866, Walthamstow, William Morris Gallery The writer Adolf Paul commissioned Sibelius to write incidental music to his play King Christian II in 1897. It was Sibelius’ first proper theatre piece. After the first performance on 24 February 1898, The Nocturne, Sérénade and Ballade were added in the summer. The Élégie, for strings only, was the Prelude in the stage performance, The Musette was originally performed on stage by only two clarinets and two bassoons, as a street musicians’ serenade. (From the CD booklet notes)