30 years of Time of Music

Time of Music festival (3–8 July), dedicated festival of contemporary music since 1982, will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. Since its early days the festival has offered an uncompromising programme of new music both Finnish and international in the small town of Viitasaari in Central Finland.

The anniversary year will have several new works in its programme. Sami Klemola has written a new work for the festival's anniversary year, to be premiered in the opening concert on 3 July. Minna Leinonen's Äiti – iäti, commissioned by Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, will have its first performance on 4 July. On 6 July, Duo Dryades will premiere Juha T. Koskinen's Semui-in. In addition to the Finnish works, premieres by composers Arturo Fuentes (4 July) and Bernard Cavanna (6 July) will also take place at the festival.

The ensembles featured at the festival include Finnish top names Uusinta and defunensemble, Helsinki Chamber Choir, as well as international guests Klangforum Wien and Aleph Guitarrenquartett.

This year's guest composer will be Austrian composer and conductor Beat Furrer. Furrer will also chair the jury of International Einojuhani Rautavaara Chamber Choir Composition Competition, a new initiative by Helsinki Chamber Choir and Time of Music festival. The finals on 7 July will feature Finnish composer Jouni Hirvelä as well as five other finalists from South Korea, Greece, Estonia, USA and Italy.

Anniversary will be celebrated also with other new treats in the programme. There will be exhibitions, "Stage is free" sessions as well as concerts at local people's homes.

Merja Hottinen / Music Finland
4 July, 2012