We could sum up the soul of a Finnish in three 'S': Sisu, Sauna, Sibelius. Sisu means bravery, firmness, savagery and strength, the power to go on and fight sure of your win; sisu is the push that moved our history until the independence. Sauna is a sacred place for Finnish, where you make a complete purification. And then Sibelius. I studied piano in the Helsinki Academy which takes his name, but each Finnish even not a musician, has a strong relationship with Sibelius. Since young, we learned his melodies, singing them in churches or during the Christmas period. His most famous works, such as Finlandia that remembers our freedom, the Valse Triste and many others are constantly played in the national celebrations. That's what Sibelius means: Homeland. 2015 is an year of Finnish pride, because we remember our greatest composer, his life and his music. Now imagine my wonder when I knew that I could celebrate his 150th birthday in Italy too, at Tigullio Festival: it was incredible and so special! On 9th October I was coming from Milan by train, just in time to see the afternoon meeting and during the travel I was reading some pages from the biography by Erik Tawaststjärna. I was never been in Rapallo before and getting off the train I thought to Sibelius coming from the iced North in a small town where the air is still warm in Autumn. Along the roads I looked with pleasure at the posters with all the concerts of the Festival and outside of an Hotel on the sea, I saw an image of Sibelius together with a typical Finnish menu - and I was so proud to see something of my Land. The meeting, in Teatro delle Clarisse, was really interesting with prepared guests talking about Sibelius from different points of view. An aperitif was offered at the end in the little room upstairs: a nice and more friendly way to know the lecturers. In the evening we're all again together in S. Margherita Ligure for a concert in the splendid Villa Durazzo, an historical building rich of art and beauty. A perfect place for a concert totally dedicated to Sibelius. The hall was crowded and the concert began. The program was so well-constructed with the pianist Folke Gräsbeck, the violinist Satu Jalas and the kantelinist Suvi Lehtonen-Gräsbeck. They also explained the pieces, the instruments and had a fantastic contact with the audience. Unfortunately this one was my only day at the Festival. I followed it from away with the news on the web and I saw that it has been a travel inside Sibelius in relation with his contemporaries and more recent music. I have admired the passionate work of Federico Ermirio and of the team who organized this festival; my heart was so touched by hearing Sibelius music in the beautiful frame of Golfo del Tigullio. I will keep with me, the memories of this day and the true attachment that many Italian people have for our culture, even it is so far.