SIbelius Symphony No. 7, Op. 105, MYX'D Chamber Players, arranged and conducted by Ivan Arion Karst

Dear Friends! I am delighted to share with you a project that has long been in my heart. After decades of listening to the masterpiece which is Symphony No. 7 by Jean Sibelius, I recently conducted my transcription for chamber orchestra with the MYX'D Chamber Players in Sofia, Bulgaria. This is the final composition which Sibelius wrote and stands as one of his most structurally complex pieces. Written between 1914 and 1924, it creates an artistic bridge between the dramatic late-romantic era and the modern music of the early 20th century. In this one-movement composition, Sibelius connects austere themes with playful melodies in such an organic manner it feels as if the music is 'evolving' on its own, completely unforced and independent of the observer. When I was conducting the piece, it felt as if he had somehow literally transcribed the very voice of nature, the sound of clouds passing overhead, of trees growing in the night, or of the sun illuminating a rugged mountain pass. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Preslav Petkov, Smiliana Lozanova, and Yuliyan Stoyanov for both performing so superbly and for collecting such fantastic musicians for this project. As you shall hear, this is an ensemble of soloists, with everyone working together to achieve a powerfully nuanced recording of Sibelius's final composition. Jean SIbelius, Symphony No. 7, Op. 105 MYX'D Chamber Players Arranger and conductor: Ivan Arion Karst Violin I: Smiliana Lozanova Violin II: Yuliyan Stoyanov Viola: Victor Mitsev Cello: Konstantin Evtimov Contrabass: Margarita Kalcheva Piano: Zornitsa Getova Trombone: Guilermo Rodriguez Horn: Nikolay Tsanev Bassoon: Nikolay Viazigin Clarinet: Preslav Petkov Oboe: Deyan Ivanov Flute: Yavor Zhelev Conductor and Arranger: Ivan Arion Karst Recorded at the First Episcopal Church in Sofia, Bulgaria, June 2026 Special thanks to Preslav Petkov, Smiliana Lozanova and Yuliyan Stoyanov for arranging this project.