The HPO celebrates 140th anniversary 

Release 03.10.2022  The Helsinki Orchestra Association performed its first concert exactly 140 years ago under conductor Robert Kajanus. The concert held in the Great Hall of the University of Helsinki on 3 October 1882 marked the starting point of what would become the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra will be celebrating its 140th anniversary week from 3 to 9 October 2022. 

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra will perform throughout this anniversary season with 102 musicians, both at its home venue at Helsinki Music Centre and at free-of-charge chamber music concerts held at the city’s libraries. The HPO is offering young audiences between the ages of 15 to 25 the chance to attend concerts at Helsinki Music Centre for the special price of just two euros throughout the 2022-2023 season. These tickets will go on sale on the Monday of each concert week, and they will be sold as long as seats are available. 

“Young people and young adults are among the groups that have suffered most during the Covid-19 period. Accordingly, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is supporting young audiences in particular during our anniversary season by offering them a special price for tickets to our concerts this autumn and next spring. Robert Kajanus, founder of the HPO, was himself just 25 when he assembled an orchestra for Helsinki,” says General Manager Aleksi Malmberg. 

At the beginning of October, the first episode of a new monthly podcast will be hosted by music journalist Jaani Länsiö and composer-conductor Satu Simola. In the first episode, the journalists list their favourite moments from the history of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Guests in future episodes will include musicians from the orchestra, audience members and Chief Conductor Susanna Mälkki, who is conducting her farewell season with the HPO. The podcast can be listened to on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/helsinkiphilharmonic 

In May 2023, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes audiences to its jubilee concert, which will feature the exact same programme that the Orchestra of the Helsinki Philharmonic Society performed at its first concert 140 years ago in October 1882. The place of Robert Kajanus will be taken by conductor John Storgårds, while concertmaster Sattler will be replaced by concertmaster Kauppinen. Single tickets to the jubilee concert will go on sale on 9 December. 
 

Special bonuses during the 140th anniversary week  

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is offering special bonuses for tickets purchased During the 140th anniversary week from 3 to 9 October. 

The Baltic children’s concert on 28 October encourages us to take better care of our shared Baltic Sea. This special concert will be conducted by Kristian Sallinen and hosted by Eija Ahvo. All tickets to the Baltic concert cost just 5 euros, and they can be redeemed from 3 to 9 October 2022. 

Tickets to all HPO concerts during the autumn season are available with a special discount of 20%. Discount tickets can be purchased from ticket offices and online from 3 to 9 October 2022.  

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Further information about the programme: www.helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi    

Tickets available from the Helsinki Music Centre and Ticketmaster ticket offices and online: www.ticketmaster.fi/hko