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By contrast Pehr Henrik Nordgren's Concerto for Strings is a work which unfolds neatly. It begins with a movement entitled Premonitions of bad days [listen -- track 3, 6:26-7:32], a reflective theme that has shades of Bartók about it. Nordgren follows this with the juxtaposition -- Dance away your worries! -- a fleshy piece of almost minimalist rhythm and scoring. And then a return to the melancholy with A belated prayer for achieving fulfilment.

What would a Finnish collection be without the man himself -- Jean Sibelius [listen -- track 6, 0:00-0:47]? Sibelius' suite Rakastava (The Lover), originally written for male choir and reworked at various stages until this string orchestra version appeared in 1912. It is a typically gorgeous Sibelius composition. Lyrical in parts, tender and aching and tinged with a shimmering mystery that is the part and parcel of the Deep North.

The Helsinki Strings' opening to this work is as good as this reviewer has heard. The sweet and warm tone doesn't waver and the second violins, in particular, contrast beautifully with those on the first desk.

Finland's prodigious musical talent is once again on display -- the Helsinki Strings and their directors, Csaba and Géza Szilvay, are a class act [listen -- track 8, 3:43-4:41].

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