Lahti Symphony Orchestra: Independence Day Concert

ANNA-MARIA HELSING, conductor
ERKKI RAUTIO, cello

Sauli Zinovjev: new work, first performance
Helvi Leiviskä: Symphony No. 2
Matti Rautio: Divertimento No. 1 for cello and orchestra
Jean Sibelius: Finlandia
Fredrik Pacius: Finnish National Anthem

Symphonically together: Polttimo

Helvi Leiviskä’s symphony, neglected during her lifetime; Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, who become a national hero when he was only in his thirties; the Finnish National Anthem; and a new work by Sauli Zinoviev. It can be said that the Lahti Symphony Orchestra’s traditional Independence Day celebration concert presents Finland’s multi-faceted identity through more than 175 years. The tectonic plates of history tremble when the great master of Finnish cello art, Erkki Rautio, interprets his brother Matti Rautio’s neo-classical favourite with the authority of a 91-year-old legend.

Duration: approx. 1 hour, no intermission.

Produced by Lahti Symphony Orchestra.