Eero Hämeenniemi

Elina Mustonen, one of Finland’s most prominent harpsichord players, has recently appeared on stage in the UK – but as an actress, in performances combining music and theatre. Where did she find the drive to extend her career to acting, and what was the result?

"Pianist Risto-Matti Marin has formed a meaningful musical whole out of five works, all recorded for the first time, by four contemporary composers living in Finland."

In summer 1979, a number of Finnish composers and musicians attended a summer course in Siena, Italy. Three of them hit on an idea for a practical joke, and this led to a grand swindle that prompted hilarity on the music scene and had many authoritative figures ending up with egg on their face. The hoax was masterminded by three composers: Eero Hämeenniemi, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Magnus Lindberg. Both of the latter turned 60 in June 2018.

All musicians seek inspiration, sometimes on the other side of the world. Eero Hämeenniemi, a Finnish composer of classical music, works in close partnership with top Indian musicians, while Kiureli Sammallahti sings Indian Bhangra music in Finnish.