Sibelian journeys

In your January issue, Tom Service shows how Sibelius’s music evokes the wild nature of Finnish weather and landscapes. When listening to his music, particularly the symphonies, I always see a mode of travel: ocean liner crossing the Atlantic, railway train going through barren countryside, yacht in full sail, motor car chugging up to full speed, space ship circling the earth and so on. Put on a performance of any Sibelius symphony, from the slow quiet introduction going into the wide powerful Allegro, and see if you can see what I see!

Barry Valentine, County Down