Art and music were central to the development of Finnish national identity and helped to bring together different cultures under a single Finnish flag. Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Conductor & Esa-Pekka Salonen shares composer Jean Sibelius's role in Finnish nation building in this film shot on location in Finland in the summer of 2017. Finland turns 100 on 6 December 2017.

Celebrate with the Philharmonia and Esa-Pekka Salonen in a special, all-Sibelius concert at London's Southbank Centre on Thursday 7 December, 7:30pm. philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/1736/esa-pekka_salonen_finnish_independence

Stay after the main concert for FREE post-concert folk music: philharmonia.co.uk/concerts/2052/london/royal_festival_hall/7_december_2017/juuri_and_juuri_finnish_folk_music