Robert Kajanus and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra premiered the work in Helsinki , Finland on 17 December 1918 ; the critics received the premiere enthusiastically and , thus , the new piece firmly established Madetoja as the vanguard of Finnish music .
Robert Kajanus and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra premiered the work in Helsinki , Finland on 17 December 1918 . 
 The critics received the premiere enthusiastically and , thus , the new piece firmly established Madetoja as the vanguard of Finnish music .