Jean Sibelius (1865-1957):
Romance in C major, Op. 42
Andante Festivo
Canzonetta, Op. 62a
Rakastava (The Lover), Op. 14

The nineteenth century brought, throughout Europe, an increasing interest in national culture and national identity, expressed politically and in all the arts. Scandinavia was not exempt from the general trend. For nearly four and a half centuries Norway was united with Denmark, and Danish culture predominated. From 1814 there was a union with Sweden that lasted into the present century, but during these years there developed a much keener sense of Norwegian identity, exemplified in the work of Ibsen and Bjornson in the theatre, and in the pioneer Rikard Nordraak