Jean Sibelius - Finlandia Op.26

One of my favourite pieces of classical music. Written in 1899 as a covert protest against Russian censorship it depicts various episodes in Finnish history, Finlandia is the seventh and last part. It is a rousing and thrilling unofficial national anthem. Performed by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Neeme Jarvi.

Jean Sibelius, born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius, was a Finnish composer and violinist of the late Romantic and early-modern periods. He is widely recognized as his country's greatest composer and, through his music, is often credited with having helped Finland to develop a national identity during its struggle for independence from Russia.

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