“The four seasons of the year form the richest part of my life. It is breathtaking to follow their alternation.” (Jean Sibelius).

The surrounding nature was an integral source of inspiration for Finland’s ‘national composer’ Jean Sibelius. The element of nature is very much present in all of his musical compositions. In his youth, the composer would grab his fiddle and improvise for many hours in the forests near to his home. Sibelius claimed that he could also see music in colours. He collected grass from the forest into a matchbox so that he could feel the forest and its fragrance whenever he wished. Later in his life Sibelius travelled extensively but always returned back to his home, Ainola, where he could feel himself close to the nature. Year after year, following the long and harsh winter months, the composer felt himself reborn at the awakening of nature during the Nordic Spring. This digital album release contains over 100 minutes of Sibelius’ music with a special focus on his Spring-themed compositions.