Despite their differences – cultural background, life in different eras – there are some similarities between Robert Schumann and Jean Sibelius in terms of their development as symphonists. Both were already respected composers when they began work on their symphonies. Robert Schumann's Fourth Symphony is actually his second, but was later heavily revised and is presented on this album in the newer version. Jean Sibelius' First Symphony was also his first work to achieve international success, as the Helsinki Philharmonic Society Orchestra toured Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium with works by Sibelius, culminating in a performance at the Paris World Exhibition.

As winner of the international conducting competition Guido Cantelli, Eliahu Inbal was already in demand as a guest conductor with the world's leading orchestras at the age of 26. Over the years, he has been principal conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra del Teatro la Fenice, the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI Turino, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.