Finland's musical excellence is not confined to classical music, but its jazz, rock and pop are also heard beyond borders.
Finland's standing in the world in musical terms is extraordinary, bearing in mind its population. Conductors Leif Segerstam, Osmo Vänskä (Musical America's Conductor of the Year in 2004), Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jukka-Pekka Saraste, opera singers Matti Salminen, Martti Talvela, Jorma Hynninen, Monica Groop and Karita Mattila, cellist Arto Noras, and pianists Ralf Gothóni and Olli Mustonen are just a few of the names with international reputations in the classical field.
So what are the reasons for this musical proficiency? Firstly, music is an international language that can be expressed across linguistic borders - and the border that the Finnish language represents is particularly significant.
There are, of course, other more prosaic reasons, such as the high standard of musical education throughout the country. Musical talent is identified and nurtured at an early age.
An example was Pekka Kuusisto, who in 1995, at the age of 19, was the first Finn to win the international Sibelius violin competition. Naturally Sibelius's D Minor Violin Concerto as interpreted by Kuusisto became a bestseller.
Nationalist themes
Internationally, Finnish music is identified closely with Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), the composer of Finlandia and Valse Triste, the Violin Concerto and seven symphonies.
In his day, his countrymen elevated him to a status even higher than that of a composer: he became the figurehead of a nation struggling for its independence. Nor did he fail them. The nationalist themes of his Kullervo, Karelia and Tapiola represent a heady and romantic expression of turn-of-the-century patriotism.
For a long time, the greatness of Sibelius thrust other talent into the shade. Only in recent years have works such as Aarre Merikanto's (1893-1958) modernistic opera Juha from the 1920s, or Leevi Madetoja's (1887-1947) 3rd Symphony (as played by the Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste) received the appreciation they deserve.
But their peers do not intimidate young composers. Among those whose reputations have travelled beyond Finland's borders are Kaija Saariaho and Magnus Lindberg, known for their experimentation in computer and electronic music.
The popularity of modern opera has taken many by surprise. Einojuhani Rautavaara, Joonas Kokkonen, Erik Bergman, and Aulis Sallinen have written operas, as well as other orchestral works, that have established themselves in the affections of Finnish audiences. A new favourite is Kullervo, Aulis Sallinen's sombre composition based on the folk poem of the same name.
The continuing success of Savonlinna's Opera Festival, held in the courtyard of the fabulous Lakeland Olavinlinna castle, is partly responsible for the popularity of opera, as is the new National Opera house in Helsinki.
Music festivals crowd the summer calendar, from the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival to the Naantali and Turku Music Festivals, all of them making the most of beautiful local church venues. Orchestras, such as the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, are esteemed abroad, and the range of venues has also improved: the 1,200-seat Sibelius Hall in Lahti which opened in 2000, is the world's only all-wooden concert hall and has excellent acoustics.
Finland's musical excellence is not confined to classical music. Finnish jazz, rock and pop - always thriving in Finland itself - are also being heard across Europe and the rest of the world.
The rock band HIM, fronted by the charismatic Ville Valo, is known internationally. The Rasmus have sold truckloads of music in the UK; and techno wizards such as Darude and hip-hoppers Bomfunk MCs are familiar to clubbers all over Europe.
- Finnish Tourist Board
