Greetings from Chief Conductor Susanna Mälkki

Dear Audience, 

Who among us would have guessed a few years ago what twists and turns our modern world would present us and our society with? Even concert life has not been spared the exceptional circumstances of these past two years of the corona crisis, even though the music itself is timeless. We are grateful that it has been possible to perform music here in Helsinki at least on digital platforms with varying ensembles of musicians, but at the same time we have been longing to play again in front of live audiences. 

If there is something essential that we have recognised about music in these challenging years, it is precisely its communal aspect. How important it is that we can indeed come together to experience things, breathe silence, and sense the vibration of sounds as one!  

Over the past six years, we have examined the world – both the past and the present – with music as our guide. The intertwining of cultural life in our identity and society has been the common thread. Do we peek in through open doors, do we stay to watch, listen, sniff, enjoy; do we dare to engage, learn, reflect, just be? 

The targets of our interest have been France, German-speaking culture, Anglo-America, Italy, Asia and the Slavic countries of continental Europe. This season, our eyes and ears will turn especially to our homeland, Finland. Although the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is the orchestra of Sibelius, Finnish music is so much more. This year's programme offers one selection, and I hope that the coming years will continue to add to the diversity of Finnish music through both brand new and older music!  

As I end my term as chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra after the 2022–23 season, I feel great joy and pride in the orchestra's current rejuvenation and its important place in Finnish music life. I also extend a warm thank you to you, dear audience, for your participation, warmth and love for music. 

You are warmly welcome to our concerts – always!  

Susanna Mälkki 
Chief Conductor 

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