Born in Hämeenlinna on 8 December 1865, Jean Sibelius went on to become a national hero. Instilling a Finnish nationalistic fervour through his music, Sibelius is credited as one of the driving forces behind the country winning its independence from Russia. Today, performances of 'Finlandia' move audiences all over the world, not just in Finland. Based in the composer’s hometown of Lahti, an hour from Helsinki, the Festival combines orchestral works, symphonies, tone poems and incidental music.
Sibelius still exerts a powerful hold on music lovers – and with three evening concerts by the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, given at the remarkable Sibelius Hall, this is one of our most popular tours.

Sibelius Hall

The 1,200 seater concert hall is built almost entirely of wood making the auditorium a firm favourite with musicians and audience alike. It opened in 2000 and quickly gained a worldwide reputation for excellence. It was built on the site of an old saw mill, a reminder of Lahti’s industrial past. The Hall looks out across the calm waters of Lake Vesijärvi, a wonderful place to be reminded of the powerful influence of the Finnish landscape on Sibelius.