The Planets performed by KSO, Oulu Symphony and women of Kuopio Symphony Choir on May 28th

Published 21.05.2026

Programme including Holst’s The Planets, Ligeti’s Atmosphères and Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite

The Kuopio Symphony Orchestra’s spring season finale on Thursday, May 28th at 6 pm reaches for the stars. The KSO joins forces with the Oulu Symphony, and this large-scale ensemble will perform György Ligeti’s celebrated work Atmosphères, Sergei Prokofiev’s powerfully surging Scythian Suite, and Gustav Holst’s classic The Planets at the Concert Hall of the Kuopio Music Centre. In Holst’s work, the ensemble is joined by the women of the Kuopio Symphony Choir. The performance is conducted by Rumon Gamba, Chief Conductor of the Oulu Symphony. The choir has been rehearsed by Jaana Turunen.

György Ligeti’s Atmosphères, a shimmering cloud of cosmic sound, shook the very foundations of orchestral music and found its way into Stanley Kubrick’s cult classic 2001: A Space Odyssey. The film’s unexpected success turned the Hungarian composer into a global icon.

Sergei Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite was written as an answer to Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring – a raw, primeval ballet suite depicting an ancient ritual, its earth-shaking rhythms revealing the ancient roots of heavy metal.

Gustav Holst’s ever-popular The Planets is a timeless classic – a work everyone should experience live at least once in their lifetime. Combining astrology, ancient myth, and the supernatural, this cosmic journey portrays the planets as divine beings whose powers shape the fate of the universe: Mars thunders with destruction, Venus breathes peace, Jupiter bursts with joy and humour, and Uranus conjures feats of magic.

Duration approx. 2 hours including interval.

Before the concert, at 5.30 pm at the Hall of Light, there will be a Pre-Talk open to all, with the artists of the evening.

Tickets: 34,60 € / 28,10 € senior citizens and groups min. 20 persons / 10,60 € children under the age of 16 and students.

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KUOPIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Producer & Publicity Manager Elina Prepula, tel. 044 718 2364, elina.prepula(at)kuopio.fi
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