Grieg, Saint-Säens and Sibelius at his sunniest: timeless melodies loved the world over. Sibelius thought of his Second Symphony as a great river flowing to the sea, others have heard a musical portrait of a nation waking to freedom. From pastoral beginnings to a soul-stirring finish, it is music of elemental power, spring-like freshness and truly epic grandeur. The RPO’s Finnish guest conductor, Emilia Hoving (something of a Sibelius expert), takes us on Sibelius’ journey today, and the unforgettable tunes of Grieg’s ever-popular music from Peer Gynt. In between, expect elegance, ardour and a very French kind of romance, as International Tchaikovsky Competition For Young Musicians winner – and RPO Artist-in-Residence – Zlatomir Fung returns to play Saint-Saëns’ dashing First Cello Concerto. You’ll believe a cello can fly.