The career of Hannu Lintu, the outstanding Finnish conductor who has directed the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for more than five years, is on a meteoric rise. Every season, he debuts with several orchestras in the United States, Japan and other countries of the Far East, as well as with prestigious European ensembles. As an eminent interpreter of the music of his home country and that of neighbouring Russia, he brings us Stravinksy’s Funeral Song, written for the death of Rimsky-Korsakov and long believed to be lost before only recently being rediscovered. One of Prokofiev’s final works, the cello concerto of symphonic scale was long considered to be unplayable. That this belief has lost favour is thanks to artists who interpret such challenges as fantastic artistic adventures, musicians like the internationally renowned István Várdai. In the second half of the evening, we will hear the bewilderingly flawless symphony of Beethoven. With its perfect proportions, gorgeous melodies and fantastic musical flourishes, it reveals to us the friendly face of an often intimidating master.