Sibelius’ music and Räihälä’s Concerto for French Horn performed on the Day of Finnish music, 8th of December
Published 01.12.2022
Jukka Harju as the soloist of KSO
On the Day of Finnish music, the 8th of December at 7 pm we will hear the contemporary composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä’s Concerto for French Horn at the KSO’s season concert at the Concert Hall of the Kuopio Music Centre. The concerto was commissioned by the soloist Jukka Harju, who works as the solo horn player at the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. The concerto will be framed by Jean Sibelius’ fascinating Wood-Nymph and hopeful Second Symphony conducted by the orchestra’s second conductor Atso Almila. Before the concert there will be an interview at the Hall of Light with the composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä, who won last year the Finlandia Prize of the non-fiction category with his book Why Is Contemporary Music So Difficult?.
The KSO season concert will start with Jean Sibelius’ Wood-Nymph. It is based on Viktor Rydberg’s text with a style of ancient knight stories and mythology. Sibelius composed two versions of The Wood-Nymph, for a smaller ensemble and for a big orchestra. The latter aroused admiration because of its effectiveness and many orchestral nuances.
The soloist piece of the evening is Osmo Tapio Räihälä’s Concerto for French Horn commissioned by the soloist Jukka Harju. It was composed during the year 2013. The cadenza section is a product of a close co-operation with Harju. ”The music has several speeds and moods, but as it is just music and nothing else, I do not want to say anything about it. This music is yours, dear listener – make of it what you like”, Räihälä says. Jukka Harju has appeared as a guest principal horn player in many European orchestras. By winning the Lieksa International Horn Competition 2005 he was nominated as Finland’s Brass player of the year in 2006.
The concert ends with Sibelius’ Second Symphony conducted by the orchestra’s second conductor Atso Almila. The main motives of the symphony were composed at a villa in Rapallo, Italy, where Sibelius stayed with his family in the beginning of 1901. Sibelius dedicated the work to his friend and patron Axel Carpelan, who decribed the piece as a symphony with sunshine, blue sky and joyful happiness.
Before the concert, at 6.30 pm there will be an artist meeting at the Hall of Light where the composer Osmo Tapio Räihälä will be interviewed. He won las year the Finlandia Prize of the non-fiction category with his book Why Is Contemporary Music So Difficult?.
The duration of the concert is about 1 hour 55 minutes, including interval.
December Discount! Two tickets for the price of one for the Thursday 8th of December concert. The discount price is available until Thursday 8th of December at Kuopio Music Centre Ticket Sales, Sokos Kuopio and www.lippu.fi.
Tickets: 33 € / 27 € senior citizens and groups min. 20 persons / 11 € children under 16 and students / 4 € concert day discount ticket for students and youth under 20 years. Prices include the Kuopio Music Centre service fee 2 € / ticket. The service fees vary depending on the place of purchase.
KUOPIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Producer & Publicity Manager Elina Prepula, tel. 044 718 2364, elina.prepula(at)kuopio.fi
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