On an ‘A-to-Z’ edition of State of the Arts, it’s Sibelius and his Symphony of Swans and Silence… The Finnish composer (and national hero) Jean Sibelius was commissioned to write a symphony to commemorate his own 50th birthday – he ended up revising it several times before it came to the version we know today, but one of its most memorable themes came to him on a morning in April when he looked to the skies.

KDFC's The State of the Arts
The Bay Area has some of the world’s best-known performing arts organizations and cultural offerings. Each day, Jeffrey Freymann showcases activities, concerts, soloists and ensembles coming through the area.