Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) was Finland's most celebrated composer, instrumental in forging Finnish national identity through his evocative late-Romantic music, particularly his seven symphonies and iconic tone poems like Finlandia. He studied in Helsinki, Berlin, and Vienna, developing a unique style influenced by nature, Finnish folklore (the Kalevala), and church modes, becoming famous but later entering a long creative silence, living at his home, Ainola, until his death.