Discovering Sibelius

Barnes & Noble duped me into a buy two get one free classical music cd purchase about six weeks ago.   I ended up picking up four violin concerto performances by Joshua Bell meaning that my $3.oo coffee cost me a total of $53.oo.   Walking through the second set of doors into the main aisle at Barnes & Noble once felt like going to church.  They haven’t changed, so I suppose that it’s I who have grown less spiritual over the years.   

One of the cds I picked up in May includes the Sibelius violin concerto.  Thank you, Julie, the birth of your son led me to the four hour road trip in late June where the Sibelius finally truly reached me.  It’s been years since I’ve fully processed a new piece the way I’ve come to own this one.  What was it, 2002/2003, when I discovered the Prokofiev concerto?  

Julie, Isac, Tony, Barnes & Noble, Joshua Bell:   All five had to come together for my discovery of Sibelius to be complete.  Peace, love & brotherhood to each of you. 

I just discovered that you can hear the first movement by Christian Ferras on YouTube.  If it reaches you- reaches your soul- , please, go to Barnes & Noble or Amazon.  
For heaven sake go buy a copy.  People devote entire lifetimes developing the skills you’ll hear for free on YouTube.  Please pay them.