Finland Day at Shanghai Expo

Finnish culture will be on focus at the Shanghai Expo (1 May – 31 Oct) on 27 May, the "Finland Day".

The cultural programme for the day concentrates on popular music. Finnish folk music will be represented by Kimmo Pohjonen, Sväng, and Lepistö & Lehti, and jazz will be played by Verneri Pohjola's Finnish-Chinese formation and The Five Corners Quintet.

The main part of the programme is dedicated to various subgenres of Finnish pop and rock; the long list of bands includes Negative, Stratovarius, Top Billin, Turisas and Villa Nah. In addition to music, also Finnish dance, theatre and new circus will be seen at the Expo on Finland Day; Finnish National Ballet will dance to the music of young Finnish composer Ville Matvejeff.

Outside the Expo area, Finnish music will play at Shanghai clubs as well. The various "Helsinki Club" evenings will feature for example Pekka Pylkkänen on 26 May, as well as "Helfest" by Stratovarius, Turisas, Before the Dawn and Negative on the same date. On 27 May electronic music will be heard at several clubs, by Jori Hulkkonen, Top Billin, Renaissance Man, Tes La Rok, Clouds, and Jimi Tenor.

Finland Day, however, is only one part of the Finnish culture's visibility in China now. The state of Finland has appropriated subsidies to support tours in China and neighboring countries. As a result, for example Meta 4 string quartet, Snipe Drive and jazz guitarist Niklas Winter have toured in China already in March, and more tours will follow during the following months. A related visit is also made by chamber orchestra Avanti!, who will premiere Kirmo Lintinen's new cello concerto with cellist Trey Lee in China. In addition, Music Export Finland will arrange a music industry seminar "Shanghai Snowball" from May 25 to May 26.

Merja Hottinen / Fimic
20 May, 2010