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Musica nova Helsinki 1–10 Feb 2019: Don’t miss these

by Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

Musica nova Helsinki, Finland’s largest contemporary music festival, takes place 1-10 February 2019. Here's FMQ's selection of the concerts and events you should not miss!
Braxton Maarit Kytoharju2
Tyondai Braxton
Photo: Maarit Kytöharju

What’s up with American contemporary music?

Artistic director André de Ridder has chosen ‘Trans-Atlantic’ as the key theme of the festival. Points of interest include:

Tyondai Braxton as an orchestral composer and electronic musician:
TELEKINESIS performed in Finland at last; Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Music Centre on 8 Feb at 19.00 & a new interpretation of Riley’s In C at Ääniwalli on 9 Feb at 21.00

David Lang’s the little matchgirl passion / Helsinki Chamber Choir & Zagros at the House of Nobility on 2 Feb at 16.30

Music written and performed by Bryce Dessner on electric guitar / e.g. Tapiola Sinfonietta at Tapiola Hall on 7 Feb at 19.00

Missy Mazzoli and other American contemporary voices / Trio Kuusisto–Sirota–Hohti at Balder Hall on 3 Feb at 15.00

Anna Thorvaldsdottir C Kristinn Ingvarsson
Anna Thorvaldsdottir
Photo: Kristinn Ingvarsson

Theme composer: Anna Thorvaldsdottir

An Icelandic composer with a rising international career, Anna Thorvaldsdottir writes captivating music that explores silence, desolation and the invisible: 

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra at the Music Centre on 1 Feb at 19.00 - Metacosmos

Helsinki Chamber Choir & Zagros at the House of Nobility on 2 Feb at 16.30 - Ad Genua 

Uusinta Ensemble at Kaapelitehdas on 3 Feb at 18.00 - In The Light of Air

Finnish Baroque Orchestra at the House of Nobility on 5 Feb at 19.00 - Shades of Silence

Flash Flash 

Juhani Nuorvala's experimental opera modelling the life of pop artist Andy Warhol receives its long-expected premiere in Black Box at the Music Centre on 9 and 10 Feb at 17.00.


Other Finnish premieres

Matthew WhittallResonance Orbits / Crash Ensemble in Paavo Hall at the Music Centre on 2 Feb at 19.00

Minna LeinonenSirri / Uusinta Ensemble at Kaapelitehdas on 3 Feb at 18.00

Paavo KorpijaakkoSiivet / Polytech Choir & Aava sax quartet at Temppeliaukio Church on 4 Feb at 18.00

Antti Auvinen: Digital Madrigal / Tapiola Sinfonietta at Tapiola Hall on 7 Feb at 19.00

Eic Credit Luc Hossepied
Ensemble intercontemporain
Photo: Luc Hossepied

Ensemble intercontemporain

An influential contemporary music powerhouse visits Helsinki, performing at the Music Centre on 9 Feb at 19.15.

Other visiting ensembles:

La Chambre aux échos from France brings socially aware music theatre to Almi Hall at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, 6–9 Feb

Ensemble U from Estonia combines virtual reality with a musical experience at Forum Box on 5 Feb at 18.00, 18.30, 21.00, 21.30 

Crash Ensemble provides a viewpoint on Irish contemporary music, mirrored against American influences, at Paavo Hall at the Music Centre, 2 Feb at 19.00 and 3 Feb at 20.00; at Bio Rex on 4 Feb at 15.00

See also the article about Jaakko Kuusisto's new opera Jää [Ice] premiered at the Musica nova Helsinki.

Musica nova Helsinki 2019


Translation: Jaakko Mäntyjärvi