HPO welcomes Samy Moussa as Composer-in-Residence
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra's composer-in-residence for the 2024–2025 season is Canadian-born Samy Moussa, who currently resides in Berlin. Moussa joins the orchestra's three-person Artistic Leadership Team after composer Anna Clyne. The programme for the upcoming season features an inspiring selection of major classical orchestral works, premieres and compositions being performed in Finland for the very first time. The popular hometown tour also continues, with the orchestra visiting the Paavalinkirkko church and Vuotalo cultural centre, while small ensembles perform chamber music in local libraries.
The HPO’s new concert season starts impressively at the beginning of September together with all the members of the Artistic Leadership Team, as the opening concert will be led by three conductors: the orchestra's chief conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, principal guest conductor Pekka Kuusisto and new composer-in-residence Samy Moussa. As a composer, Moussa will perform several times throughout the season, and some of his works that will be heard in Helsinki will be performed for the first time ever in Europe.
The concerts led by Chief Conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste will feature major orchestral works by Sibelius, Mahler and Haydn and also celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer Anton Bruckner. The Helsinki Variations in turn present the newest of the new with compositions receiving their premieres. This series of commissioned compositions started in the anniversary year of Finland’s independence and now culminates in performances of works by Outi Tarkiainen, Jouni Hirvelä and Olli Virtaperko.
The upcoming season also presents an impressive line-up of guest conductors and soloists. Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann makes her much-anticipated return to the HPO, as does the orchestra's Chief Conductor Emeritus Susanna Mälkki. Pianist legend Yefim Bronfman will be the orchestra’s soloist at the start of the autumn season, and violinist Leonidas Kavakos, already well-known to Helsinki audiences, will perform at the end of the spring season. Other violin soloists include Karen Gomyo, Ava Bahari and Kristīne Balanas, who will be debuting with the HPO. Trumpetist Tine Thing Helseth, horn artist Stefan Dohr and trombonist Jörgen van Rijen in turn will shine as the orchestra’s brass soloists.
The HPO’s major collaborative project HUOM – History’s Unheard Orchestral Music will highlight one of Finland’s first female composer-conductors, Heidi Sundblad-Halme, whose works will be performed in two concerts in December and January.
In addition to the orchestra’s hometown tours, the HPO also continues its international tour activities and will give concerts in five cities in Spain in November. In compliance with the Carbon Neutral Helsinki Action Plan, the orchestra's flights will be compensated and domestic trips will be made by train.
Full programme: www.helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi
Digital concert programme: https://ejulkaisuplus.grano.fi/hko/hko_kausiesite_2024_2025/index.html#p=1
Tickets: Online from the HPO website www.helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi and from the box office of Helsinki Music Centre
Season tickets for autumn season on sale 21 May – 6 August 2024.
Single tickets for autumn season go on sale 13 August.