For their 100th anniversary this fall, Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle gathered a group of local heavy metal heroes and RSO, the Radio Symphony Orchestra, to play Finnish metal classics. Conducted by Eero Lehtimäki, the soloists included Marko Hietala, Noora Louhimo (pictured), Timo Kotipelto, Samy Elbanna, and more. Keep reading to find out what it sounded like – and see it for yourself!

This year marks the 100^th anniversary of Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle, which of course has been celebrated throughout the year in Yle’s radio and television channels, and streaming platforms. The actual birthday is on Wednesday, the 9^th of September – when Yle’s first radio broadcast was launched in 1926 – but the biggest festivities took place already last Saturday, the 5^th of September, at Veikkaus Arena, Helsinki.

In the weekend’s vast programme, one of the main draws – and the one that has probably gathered most attention – was without a doubt RSO’s ”Metal Classics” concert, in which the Radio Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Eero Lehtimäki, performed new arrangements of classic Finnish metal songs that have achieved international success. So that means stuff like ”Join Me”, ”Wish I Had an Angel”, ”Needled 24/7”, and the like.

The concert, part of Yle’s anniversary programming, was broadcast live on television and is available to watch and listen to on Yle Areena all around the world.

During an hour-long set, seven leading figures from the Finnish metal scene took the stage as soloists: Antti Hyyrynen (Stam1na), Noora Louhimo (formerly of Battle Beast), Marko Hietala (Tarot, formerly of Nightwish), Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius), Tomi Joutsen (Amorphis), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica), and Samy Elbanna (Lost Society, Children of Bodom), both on lead guitar and vocals. The band performing alongside RSO consisted of Tuomas Wäinölä (guitar), Jere Lehto (bass), Rolf Pilve (drums), and Robert Engstrand (keys).

So what was it like, you’re asking. This is what journalist Ilkka Mattila from Helsingin Sanomat had to say in his review:

“Combining a metal band with a symphony orchestra is hardly a new idea — it has been around for decades. Yet rarely has the concept worked as brilliantly as it did at Saturday evening’s RSO Metal Classics concert at Veikkaus Arena.” He continues: ”Timo Hietala’s orchestral arrangements of songs drawn from the history of Finnish metal were both ingenious and genuinely added something new to the music.”

But actually, see and hear it for yourself via this link!