For his first appearance in Harpa, Osmo Vänskä has chosen the intense Sixth Symphony by Mahler. Written for a very large orchestra, it is among the composers most impressive works. The symphony inhabits a world of peril and disorder; the music is powerful, yet dark like the lingering shadow of death, a masterpiece driven by sinister visions, marital love, and distant cowbells. Soprano Helena Juntunen has performed at the Finnish National Opera for years, and appears frequently in many of the world's most famous opera houses. When Vänska chose her to sing at the London Philharmonic the response was amazing. “She is a force of nature,” claimed The Times in its review.