Kullervo, the five-movement narrative symphony composed by Jean Sibelius at the age of 25 was based on a story from the Kalevala, the mythic history of the ancient Finns, and from the moment of its 1892 premiere in Helsinki Ð conducted by Sibelius Ð Kullervo, became a symbol of Finnish nationalism, and the composer became a national hero. The 80-minute work, performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the men from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus, with baritone Nathan Gunn and mezzo-soprano Charlotte Hellekant, was conducted by ASO Music Director Robert Spano and recorded at the Woodruff Arts Center .