The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra’s very own Maria Krykov performs as the soloist for Missy Mazzoli's double bass concerto in a concert by this season's artist-in-residence Pekka Kuusisto. The composer's muse was a double bass built in 1580 and forgotten in an Italian convent for hundreds of years. “I imagined this instrument as a historian, an object that collected the music of the passing centuries in the twists of its neck and the fibres of its wood, finally emerging into the light at age 400 and singing it all into the world.”
Pekka Kuusisto
Violinist, conductor and composer Pekka Kuusisto is renowned for his artistic freedom and fresh approach to repertoire. Widely recognised for his flair in directing ensembles, Kuusisto is Artistic Director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, and Artistic Partner with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He is also a Collaborative Partner of the San Francisco Symphony, and Artistic Best Friend of Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. In the 2021/22 season, he is the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Featured Artist, with whom he performs as both violinist and conductor and has programmed two concerts in the orchestra’s Music of Today series.
In the 2021/22 season Kuusisto performs the world premiere of Bryce Dessner’s violin concerto with the HR Sinfonieorchester, and later with the Philharmonia, San Francisco Symphony, and Munich Chamber orchestras and Orchestre de Paris. He performed the world premiere of Thomas Ades’s Märchentänze for violin and orchestra with the Finnish Radio Symphony orchestra and later with Barcelona Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony and Danish Radio Symphony orchestras. He performs the French premiere of Märchentänze for violin and piano with the composer at the Fondation Louis Vuitton and later at the Wigmore Hall in London. Kuusisto performs other concertos written for him including Nico Muhly’s violin concerto, Shrink and a new concerto by Djuro Zivkovic. In recent seasons Kuusisto has premiered new works by Sauli Zinovjev, Daníel Bjarnason, Anders Hillborg, Philip Venables and Andrea Tarrodi.
Yes, but only before or after the concert. During the concert we just want you to enjoy the music. This way you won’t disturb the musicians or other audience members.
Only the orchestra has a dress code. You can dress as you like.
You can give the ticket to a friend or donate it to a music student by calling 09-3102 2700 or sending an e-mail to helsinki.philharmonic@hel.fi by 3pm on the day of the concert.
