Tapiola, op.112, is a 1926 symphonic poem by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865 - 1957). His seven symphonies are generally considered the highlight of his oeuvre, but he was also one of the most important composers of symphonic poems - and it is in that genre that we find my favourite work of his. Tapiola portrays Tapio, the animating forest spirit mentioned throughout the epic poetry of Kalevala. It was Sibelius's last major work, though he lived for another thirty years. The average playing time is 18 minutes (AllMusic). I have two versions, of which I have a preference for the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan on a Deutsche Grammophon CD.
