October is wrapped up with the sounds of big symphonic composers. The HPO Sinfonietta takes on the rich Adagio-part of Mahler’s unfinished tenth symphony, pays tribute to Beethoven’s 250th anniversary with the composer’s first symphony, and interprets Sibelius the Lover-suite with its rich sounding string section. Iannis Xenakis’ hypnotic solopiece for percussion transforms two art forms into a duet, when HPO percussion section leader Xavi Castelló Aràndiga takes the stage with Tero Saarinen Company dancer Oskari Kymäläinen. 

This concert, led by Pekka Kuusisto, sets off with New York composer Missy Mazzoli’s Vespers. Islandic Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s dark shimmering soundscapes, Mozart’s fast-paced Divertimento, Sándor Veress’ Transylvanian dances and Magnus Lindberg’s first violin concerto all wrap up in a concert that speaks to the current times.

In the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra's Mindful Music concert mindfulness exercises are combined with the pieces performed by the HPO musicians.

Beethoven, Bottesini & Mustonen - Chamber music - live broadcast from Musiikkitalo

Helsingin kaupunginorkesterin perinteinen Vappumatinea HKO Screen -lähetyksenä

The programme for this Friday’s chamber music concert presents music by Johannes Brahms, Luciano Berio, Robert Schumann and Aulis Sallinen, who is also celebrating his 85th birthday at the beginning of April.

Falling in love can cause sleeplessness and weight loss – or the Symphonie fantastique. Tormented by the waves of passion, the Artist comes to life as Lélio in a piece that Berlioz composed as a sequel to his Symphonie fantastique. This is the first time that the two pieces, which the composer intended as a pair, will be performed together in Finland.

Tchaikovsky travelled with his brother Modest to Rome in 1880 and was inspired by the city’s soundscape: the carnivals, the animated locals, even the fanfare of the cavalry that could be heard through his hotel window in the morning. It is very possible that the composer admired the same fountains that inspired Ottorino Respighi to compose his tone poem a few decades later.

It has been a hundred years since Sibelius’s Humoresques were first performed and 150 years since the birth of Armas Järnefelt. 

”Veli Kujala performs magic tricks for a hobby. This can perhaps be heard in his music,” says violinist Eriikka Maalismaa, describing the musical language of this evening’s debuting composer.