Einojuhani Rautavaara

Einojuhani Rautavaara was a Finnish composer of classical music and one of Finland's most notable composers after Jean Sibelius. His oeuvre spans various styles and includes symphonies, operas, concertos, and chamber works. Initially employing 12-tone serial techniques, Rautavaara's later music is characterized as neo-romantic and mystical, with major works such as his first piano concerto, Cantus Arcticus, and his seventh symphony, Angel of Light. Born in Helsinki, his early musical development was influenced by his operatic father. Rautavaara studied at the University of Helsinki and Sibelius Academy and gained international recognition with A Requiem in Our Time. He received a Sibelius-recommended scholarship to Juilliard in New York, further broadening his musical horizons, which ultimately shaped his eclectic and unique compositional voice.