Väinö Raitio
Finnish composer Väinö Raitio was born in Sortavala on 15 April 1891.
He wrote eight large symphonic poems in the 1920s, and then mostly shorter works for smaller groups in the 1930s and 40s.
Influenced by Scriabin, he was one of a small group of composers who wrote in a new cosmopolitan manner, but his style was considered too modern for the prevaling musical taste, and only one of his works - the 1919 orchestral piece Joutsenet (Swans) - was ever published during his lifetime.
At his death in Helsinki on 10 September 1945, aged fifty-four, he left five operas, two ballets and various orchestral, choral and chamber works.