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Celebrating 150 years since the birth of Sibelius, the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra gives two concerts dedicated to the works of Sibelius at the 2015 Lahti Sibelius Festival.

For the first, Finnish opera stars Johanna Rusanen and Waltteri Torikka, and Finnish male choir The Polytech Choir join Sakari Oramo for the revolutionary symphonic suite ‘Kullervo’ and tone poem ‘En Saga’.

The critically acclaimed premiere of Sibelius’s symphonic suite ‘Kullervo’ in 1892 is widely regarded as the birth of a true Finnish musical identity. Based on the character of Kullervo in the epic poem ‘Kalevala’, the piece caused widespread controversy and established Sibelius as the central figure in Finnish music.

Completing the evening is Sibelius’s tone poem ‘En Saga’ which the composer described as his most profound and honest work, commenting: ‘in no other work have I revealed myself so completely’.