Helene Schjerfbeck, Self-Portrait (detail), 1912. Oil on canvas. Finnish National Gallery Collection, Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki (A-2016-51)
The Orchestra Now Presents
Sight & Sound: Sibelius, Schjerfbeck, and Finland
Presented by The Orchestra Now (TŌN) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC
Sunday, March 1, 2026
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Sibelius Finlandia2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Sibelius Symphony No. 7
Artwork by Helene Schjerfbeck and others
Leon Botstein conductor
In the popular series Sight & Sound, TŌN explores the parallels between orchestral music and visual art. Each performance includes an introduction by a Met curator, a discussion with conductor and music historian Leon Botstein accompanied by on-screen exhibition images and live musical excerpts, and a full performance of the works.
Beloved in Nordic countries for her highly original style, Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck overcame immense personal struggles working in a remote location for decades, producing a powerful body of work through sheer willpower. Over the years, her art shifted from traditional and realistic subjects to a simplified, spare style. The music of Schjerfbeck’s contemporary compatriot Jean Sibelius saw a similar change over time. His patriotic 1900 work Finlandia paints a clear picture of the historical progress of Finland and its bright future. By the time he finished his Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh symphonies 20 years later, Sibelius became increasingly concerned with paring down his music to the bare essentials.
The exhibition Seeing Silence: The Paintings of Helene Schjerfbeck will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue December 5, 2025–April 5, 2026 in gallery 964.
For more information, call 212-570-3949, e-mail [email protected],
or visit https://ton.bard.edu/events/finland/.
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC
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