Sibbe Live!: Music of Love and the Sea

Ernest Chausson’s (1855–1899) Poème de l’Amour et de la Mer, Op. 19 (Poem of Love and the Sea), is a gem of French Romanticism—a song cycle for soprano or mezzo-soprano and orchestra, composed between 1882 and 1892. The work is based on poems by Maurice Bouchor, which explore the mystical connection between love and the sea. The three-part cycle—La Fleur des eaux (The Flower of the Waters), Interlude, and La Mort de l’amour (The Death of Love)—guides the listener from passionate love to its fading and eventual longing. Chausson’s impressionistic musical language, rich harmonies, and orchestration that mirrors the waves of the sea create a captivating and emotionally profound experience.

In this concert, the approximately half-hour work will be performed in a transcription by Franck Villard for voice, string quartet, and piano. Villard’s adaptation seeks to honor the unique spirit of the original composition, preserving its symphonic breadth while bringing out the intimacy of French melody.

“Chausson’s song cycle made a lasting impression on me, and I’ve wanted to perform it for a long time,” says soprano Annukka Kuivisto. “A few years ago, I came across this transcription for chamber ensemble, and we began planning a performance together with pianist Jaana Luuppala and the Aboa Quartet. Our long-standing plan will finally come to life in autumn 2025, when we premiere the work in the excellent concert hall of the Sibelius Museum in Turku. It will also be the Finnish premiere of Franck Villard’s transcription.”

Gabriel Fauré’s (1845–1924) Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15, is one of the French composer’s masterpieces. Composed between 1876 and 1879 for violin, viola, cello, and piano, the four-movement work—Allegro molto moderato, Scherzo: Allegro vivo, Adagio, and Allegro molto—reflects Fauré’s sensitive and melodic style, blending Romantic passion with impressionistic elegance. The dark hues of C minor and the dramatic contrasts give the work deep emotional weight, while its structure remains clear and balanced. The slow third movement is especially noted for its lyrical beauty. Loved in the chamber music repertoire, the quartet is celebrated for its expressiveness and virtuosic character.

The Aboa Quartet has performed this piece in various contexts over the years, including a tour in China in 2018. Violist Harri Sippel of the Aboa Quartet describes the work as “an absolute gem of the piano quartet repertoire, and it is a pleasure to perform it once again—this time at the Sibelius Museum in Turku.”