The Musica nova Helsinki 25th anniversary on Mar 3 - 11, 2006

The Musica nova Helsinki contemporary music festival celebrates its 25th anniversary on March 3 - 11, 2006.

The Finnish focus concerts include concerts dedicated to Sampo Haapamäki (March 8), Tommi Kärkkäinen (March 7), Osmo Tapio Räihälä (March 9) and Harri Vuori (March 4). The Finnish RSO will perform a concert of works by Pehr Henrik Nordgren on March 8, and accordionist Mika Väyrynen will also premiere Nordgren's accordion concerto.

Of other world premieres should be mentioned the new clarinet concerto 'Tales of Joy, of Passion, of Love' by Uljas Pulkkis (b. 1975). Kari Kriikku will premiere it with the Tapiola Sinfonietta on March 10.

The international part of the festival offers such names as John Zorn, Christopher Rouse, Michel van der Aa (the Finnish premiere of the opera 'One') and Unsuk Chin (the Finnish premiere of 'Cantatrix sopranica').

Other contemporary music festivals in spring

Other important Finnish contemporary music festivals include Aboa musica in Turku and Tampere Biennale. Aboa musica will be organized on March 7 - 12, 2006, and it will focus on Kalevi Aho's and Unsuk Chin's works. Tampere Biennale will be celebrated on April 5 - 9, and its main focus is in percussion music.

Aarne Toivonen/Fimic
1 March, 2006