Finns have long had a deep affinity for music of Russian origin. Perhaps that says something about the Finnish mental landscape or “national psyche”. But it...

Kaija Saariaho has composed a new opera, Only the Sound Remains, to be premiered in March. One of the significant roles is assigned to the kantele,...

"Through its themes and concert practices, Our Festival keeps building on the experience of living in a shared world and facing common problems."

The Finnish arts subsidy system is considered efficient and effective by international standards. However, a recent report by the Finnish Cultural Foundation reveals that the structure...

I was three and a half years old when I performed for the first time, at my father’s employer’s Christmas party. One of the guests gave...

Is music theatre a cash cow or a quality art form, or something in between? Who should perform musicals and why? Some Finnish institutions have become...

A high-value instrument should be the principal tool of any top musician, but the real gems are available only to a select few. Tomas Djupsjöbacka set...

2015 has been a milestone year for the 40-year-old UMO Jazz Orchestra. We invited three key figures to look back on the history of the internationally...

Composing always has a social dimension, because composers engage in it in the context created by society. Yet composers’ views on the relationship between music and...