This new recording features the Finnish YL Male Voice Choir, one of the world’s best-known male choirs, under its long-time conductor Matti Hyökki.

Here, they perform works by great living Finnish composers, in addition to the late Erik Bergman and two-time British Composer Award winner Tarik O’Regan.

All featured works were commissioned by and written for YL. They reflect on life in all its shades, from exuberant joy in the Kanteletar Drinking Song to intimate sorrow in Lamentation.

Since its foundation at the Helsinki University in 1883, YL has continued to champion music written at its time, including numerous works written for the choir by Jean Sibelius and Einojuhani Rautavaara.