SEASON SERIES CONCERT 6: MOSAIC OF SHADES

Thursday 16.04.2026 at 6pm Kuopio Music Centre Concert Hall

At 5.30 pm Atrium
PRE-TALK

Kuopio Symphony Orchestra
Anna-Maria Helsing, conductor
Laura Mikkola, piano

Žibuoklė Martinaitytė: Chiaruscuro Trilogy Piano Concerto
Camille Saint-Saëns: Africa Op. 89 – Fantasy for piano and orchestra
Dobrinka Tabakova: Tectonic from the Earth Suite (Finnish premiere)
Einar Englund: Symphony No 4 ”Nostalgic”

Pianist Laura Mikkola was immediately inspired by Martinaitytė’s concerto Chiaroscuro Trilogy upon receiving the score. “Chiaroscuro Trilogy is a truly impressive work – virtuosic and energetic. I performed the Finnish premiere of the piece at the Iitti Music Festival in 2023 together with the Mikkeli City Orchestra. Žibuoklė Martinaitytė was present as our guest composer.” Chiaroscuro in visual arts refers to the gradual transition from light to shadow. In the concerto, light and darkness serve as metaphors for sonic expression – it contains different shades of light and dark. This is not a conventional piano concerto; instead, the work establishes an intimate relationship between the soloist and the chamber orchestra, without clearly dominant roles. The piece combines New York post-minimalism with deep Eastern European dramatic expression.

Camille Saint-Saëns’ Africa Fantasy was born out of the time the composer spent in Algeria and Egypt. In the work, Saint-Saëns blends Algerian scales with Romantic harmonies. At its climax, the melody “Salam al-Bey” is heard, which was the national anthem of Tunisia. Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova’s Tectonic depicts the Earth’s shifting tectonic plates and the seismic changes within society. Einar Englund’s Fourth Symphony, Nostalgic, is dedicated to the memory of a great artist, which can be heard in its Shostakovich-inspired elements. The mournful work also evokes the transience of existence.

Duration approx. 1 hour 30 minutes including interval.

The concert is included in the Season Series Ticket and Mini Series Ticket 2.

Produced by the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra

SEASON SERIES TICKET

Includes 8 Season Series concerts

Early Bird price 200 € / 160 € senior citizens
Available: 14.11. – 4.12.
Buy Season Series Ticket

Normal price 220 € / 179 € senior citizens
Available: 5.12. – 9.1.

MINI SERIES 2

Miniseries 2
Includes 4 Season Series concerts

Early Bird price 110 / 90 € senior citizens
Available: 14.11. – 4.12.
Buy Miniseries 2

Normal price 120 € / 95 € senior citizens
Available: 5.12. – 29.1.

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