War&Violence

FMQ put together a playlist of opera scenes in which or as a consequence of which a woman dies.

This year marks the centenary of the Finnish Civil War. My Brother’s Keeper, a new opera by Olli Kortekangas, focuses on the tragic wartime events in Tampere.

What is the societal function of music – and art in general – in addressing violence? Should art depict violence, and if so, how?

The cultural cold war between the superpowers that began after the Second World War played a major role in shaping the international arts and culture scene as we know it today. This series of articles discusses the impacts of cultural diplomacy, particularly that of the USA, on Finnish music from the days of the Cold War to the present. The first part focuses on the years immediately after the war. Finnish music came back to life immediately after hostilities ceased, and a new international era dawned.

The wars fought in the early decades of Finland’s independence cast a long, dark shadow far into the second half of the 20th century. The voice of war in works by Finnish composers speaks of victory, defeat, grief and reconciliation.

Finnish war films feature exquisite music. To help you get the most out of the music, here is a listener's guide to the cream of the crop — although that includes one film with no score at all.

This year [1992] Finland becomes 75. Our years of independence are being celebrated with exhibitions, speeches and commemorative gold coins. The country has changed in many ways since 1917, but the period which has so far attracted most attention in the celebrations has been the war. This is not surprising. For the generation of Finns born soon after the country gained her independence, the war has been the most dramatic event of their lives. Now, nearly fifty years after armistice, veterans' organizations are playing a very active role in the independence celebrations. The music of the war years is enjoying a revival, and there are even new songs being written about the veterans and their memories.