Morceau romantique sur un motif de M. Jacob von Julin

Sibelius himself could probably not have suspected that the gala event held on 9th March 1925 at the Stock Exchange by the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital would be the last time he appeared as the conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and all in all as a conductor.

In addition to a few popular short orchestral numbers, the maestro ended the concert by conducting – as a surprise – a new little waltz based on a theme by Jacob von Julin, an industrialist and keen music lover. The manuscript of the piece was auctioned at the event, and the children’s hospital project gained a pretty sum from the sale.

Text: Timo Virtanen 
Picture: HPO's archive