Finnish music knows no boundaries—it is filled with a variety of sounds. In the Independence Day gala concert of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Nicholas Collon conducts music by three fascinatingly different Finnish composers. The late Kaija Saariaho gazed into the winter sky, and saw infinities beyond the belt of Orion. And of course, the Kalevala needs no introduction – though as Nicholas Collon shows, Uuno Klami’s colourful retelling still has a few surprises up its sleeve.Jean Sibelius composed Finlandia in 1899, inspired by the oppressive actions of the Russians. The piece, which expresses a national longing for freedom, has become famous all over the world. The concert was recorded at the Helsinki Music Centre on December 6, 2025.

In this edition of Eurovision Classical Concerts, we immerse ourselves in fantastical worlds. With Anatoly Lyadov's ‘Enchanted Lake’ and Igor Stravinsky's “Petrushka”, the programme literally features two ‘magical’ works. The young star conductor Marie Jacquot conducts the WDR Symphony Orchestra, of which she will be the principal conductor from September 2026.

In Lisbon’s Grand Auditorium, the Gulbenkian Orchestra conducted by Aziz Shokhakimov presents a programme where landscape turns into sound. The evening opens with Smetana, whose music follows the river as it gathers strength and memory, an image of a nation and its heartbeat. Debussy’s shimmering textures invite light to become vibration, while Ravel closes the first part with an irresistible sense of rhythm and grace. Under Shokhakimov’s direction, the orchestra plays with clarity and emotional depth, bridging tradition and modernity. The concert becomes a living portrait of Europe in sound, flowing from silence to movement, from memory to renewal.

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra opens the Eurovision Classical Concerts series from the stunning Aviva Studios in Manchester, conducted by Ben Gernon. This dynamic performance celebrates both classic and contemporary repertoire, featuring works by Adams, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams and Thomas Adès, presented by Nicholas Collon.