The Proms鈥� Sibelius symphony cycle continues with the concise, intricately wrought Third and the darker Fourth 鈥� once described by conductor Herbert Blomstedt as 鈥榓n essay in trying to be happy which fails 鈥� on purpose鈥�. These are paired with the composer鈥檚 popular Violin Concerto with Lithuanian soloist Julian Rachlin. Conductor Ilan Volkov is a passionate champion of contemporary music and here premieres a new Sibelius-inspired work by Michael Finnissy 鈥� a composer whose music, though fascinatingly complex, finds real connection with politics, society and culture.