One of the greatest sources of inspiration for many composers is their country and culture, and this program features works in which the country of origin is beyond a doubt! There is perhaps no greater example of this type of composition than Sibelius’s “Finlandia,” a work so nationalistic that it had to be performed under the title “Impromptu” during the years that Finland was under the sway of the Russian Empire. Ironically, Joan Tower’s “Made in America,” a fantasia on “America the Beautiful,” was inspired by the years she spent as a child living in Bolivia, an experience that gave her an even greater appreciation for the opportunities our country offers.  And while there is nothing overtly nationalistic about Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, it is a work that is imbued with the dark, sombre, and serious nature of that culture, qualities that are apparent in even the most triumphant moments of this landmark work.