Finlandia

Freedom can also take the form of a shared voice. In Finlandia, Sibelius transformed a people’s longing into music of tension, resistance and ultimately affirmation. Its famous closing hymn is more than a memorable melody: it is the musical image of a community coming to recognise itself and affirm its identity under the weight of history.

The Third Symphony reveals another side of the composer. More austere, classical and inward-looking than his earlier symphonies, it replaces sweeping gestures with music of remarkable clarity, balance and concentration.

The evening opens with Andy Akiho’s Percussion Concerto, performed by Colin Currie, one of the world’s foremost percussionists. Here, percussion takes centre stage—not only as a rhythmic force, but also as a melodic, physical and theatrical presence. Under the direction of Antony Hermus, the Sinfónica de Tenerife presents a programme in which contemporary energy meets historical memory, moving from rhythm as a vital impulse to music as a powerful affirmation of freedom.