Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43, Op. 43

Composed in 1902 and premiered to tremendous acclaim in Helsinki, Sibelius's Second Symphony is his most immediately appealing orchestral work. The expansive finale, built from a series of unfolding paragraphs that culminate in a sweeping D major apotheosis, has often been interpreted as a metaphor for Finnish national awakening. The symphony remains one of the most frequently performed in the orchestral repertoire.