Editing Jean Sibelius (section)

===Studies and early career===
After graduating from high school in 1885, Sibelius began to study law at the [[University of Helsinki|Imperial Alexander University in Finland]] but, showing far more interest in music, soon moved to the Helsinki Music Institute (now the [[Sibelius Academy]]) where he studied from 1885 to 1889.

[[File:Martin Wegelius.gif|thumb|left|upright|[[Martin Wegelius]], Sibelius's teacher in Finland]]
One of his teachers was its founder, Martin Wegelius, who did much to support the development of education in Finland. Wegelius gave the self-taught Sibelius his first formal lessons in composition.{{sfn|Goss|2009|p=75}} Another important influence was his teacher [[Ferruccio Busoni]], a pianist-composer with whom he enjoyed a lifelong friendship.{{sfn|Lagrange|1994|p=985}} His close circle of friends included the pianist and writer [[Adolf Paul]] and the conductor-to-be [[Armas Järnefelt]] (who introduced him to his influential family, including his sister [[Aino Sibelius|Aino]] who Sibelius would marry in 1892).{{sfn|Murtomäki|2000}} The most remarkable of his works during this period was the Violin Sonata in F, rather reminiscent of [[Edvard Grieg|Grieg]].{{sfn|Tawaststjerna|1976|p=62}}

Sibelius continued his studies in [[Berlin]] (from 1889 to 1890) with [[Albert Becker (composer)|Albert Becker]], and in [[Vienna]] (from 1890 to 1891) with [[Robert Fuchs (composer)|Robert Fuchs]] and Hungarian-Jewish composer [[Karl Goldmark]]. In Berlin, he had the opportunity to widen his musical experience by going to a variety of concerts and operas, including the premiere of [[Richard Strauss]]'s ''[[Don Juan (Strauss)|Don Juan]]''. He also heard the Finnish composer [[Robert Kajanus]] conducting the [[Berlin Philharmonic]] in a program that included his symphonic poem ''[[Aino (Kajanus)|Aino]]'', a patriotic piece that may have inspired Sibelius's later interest in using the epic poem ''[[Kalevala]]'' as a basis for his own compositions.{{sfn|Lagrange|1994|p=985}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Kalevala taiteessa – Musiikissa: Ensimmäiset Kalevala-aiheiset sävellykset |language=fi |publisher=Kalevalan Kultuuruhistoria |url=http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1a1&s=p1a1s1&h=hp1a1&f=fp1s |access-date=21 June 2015 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720190340/http://www.kalevalaseura.fi/kaku/sivu.php?n=p1a1&s=p1a1s1&h=hp1a1&f=fp1s |url-status=live }}</ref> While in Vienna, he became particularly interested in the music of [[Anton Bruckner]] whom he regarded as "the greatest living composer" for a time, although also showing interest in the established works of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven]] and [[Richard Wagner|Wagner]]. He enjoyed his year in Vienna, frequently partying and gambling with his new friends. It was also in Vienna that he turned to orchestral composition, composing an Overture in E major and a ''Scène de Ballet''. While embarking on ''[[Kullervo (Sibelius)|Kullervo]]'', an orchestral work with chorus and soloists inspired by the ''Kalevala'', he fell ill but was restored to good health after gallstone-excision surgery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Studies in Vienna 1890–91 |work=Jean Sibelius |publisher=Finnish Club of Helsinki |url=http://www.sibelius.fi/english/elamankaari/sib_opinnot_wien.htm |access-date=7 June 2015 |archive-date=24 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524191512/http://www.sibelius.fi/english/elamankaari/sib_opinnot_wien.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after returning to Helsinki, Sibelius conducted his Overture and the ''Scène de Ballet'' at a popular concert.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kullervo and the wedding 1891–1892 |work=Jean Sibelius |publisher=Finnish Club of Helsinki |url=http://www.sibelius.fi/english/elamankaari/sib_kullervo.htm |access-date=7 June 2015 |archive-date=24 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524225447/http://www.sibelius.fi/english/elamankaari/sib_kullervo.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> He was also able to continue working on ''Kullervo'', now that he was increasingly developing an interest in all things Finnish. Premiered in Helsinki on 28 April 1892, the work was an enormous success.{{sfn|Murtomäki|2000}}

[[File:Sibelius 1891.jpg|thumb|upright|Sibelius in 1891, when he studied in Vienna]]

It was around this time that Sibelius finally abandoned his cherished aspirations as a violinist:
<blockquote>My tragedy was that I wanted to be a celebrated violinist at any price. Since the age of 15 I played my violin practically from morning to night. I hated pen and ink—unfortunately I preferred an elegant violin bow. My love for the violin lasted quite long and it was a very painful awakening when I had to admit that I had begun my training for the exacting career of a virtuoso too late.{{sfn|Kaufman|1938|p=218}}</blockquote>

In addition to the long periods he spent studying in Vienna and Berlin, in 1900 he travelled to Italy, where he spent a year with his family. He composed, conducted and socialized actively in the Scandinavian countries, Britain, France and Germany and later travelled to the United States.{{sfn|Goss|2011|p=162}}