Deeply human works by Vasks and Bruckner performed on 8th of October

Published 01.10.2026

Swedish cellist Torleif Thedéen as soloist of KSO

The Kuopio Symphony Orchestra’s Vasks & Bruckner season concert on Thursday, 8th of October at 6 pm presents two profoundly moving works: Peteris Vasks’s Cello Concerto No. 2 and Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6. Taking the stage of the Kuopio Music Centre Concert Hall will be one of the Nordic region’s most esteemed instrumentalists, Swedish cellist Torleif Thedéen, while the orchestra will be conducted by the acclaimed Polish conductor Marzena Diakun, a prizewinner in several international competitions.

Making their first appearance in Kuopio on the 8th of October, Polish conductor Marzena Diakun and Swedish cellist Torleif Thedéen will present two deeply human works. Peteris Vasks’s Cello Concerto No. 2, subtitled Presence, is firmly rooted in the spirit of our time. The cello’s solo part moves through unrest and hope, serving almost as a human voice: expressive, vulnerable, and sustaining. According to the composer, the work portrays the course of human life from birth to death, as well as the soul’s journey between the earthly and the cosmic. The cello has always been a particularly close instrument to Vasks, and the concerto was completed in 2012 for cellist Sol Gabetta and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta.

“Peteris Vasks’ music speaks where words fall silent. A meditation in sound and silence, where simplicity reveals profound depth. I am very much looking forward to perform this piece with the Kuopio Symphony and Marzena Diakun”, says the evening’s soloist, Torleif Thedéen.

The concerto is paired with Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6, one of his most distinctive and daring works. Bruckner composed the symphony at a time when his music was gaining increasing recognition, yet still faced skepticism and criticism. The work emerged during a period of creative transition: having just completed the monumental architecture of his Fifth Symphony, Bruckner sought a lighter and more transparent mode of expression. The result is a symphonic journey that is at once majestic, fresh, and profoundly human. Although the symphony did not receive its complete premiere until after the composer’s death, it has since become one of his most highly regarded works.

Cellist Torleif Thedéen is one of the most respected instrumentalists in the Nordic countries, having earned international acclaim both as a concerto soloist and as a recording artist. He has won several international cello competitions and serves as Visiting Professor of Cello at the Royal College of Music in London as well as Professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

Conductor Marzena Diakun has achieved an esteemed position at a relatively young age. She is praised as a dynamic and charismatic conductor whose energy and powerful conducting technique leave a lasting impression. Diakun won second prize in two major international conducting competitions (Prague Spring 2007 and Fitelberg 2012) and is widely sought after as an interpreter of the great orchestral masterpieces.

The duration of the concert is approximately 2 hours, including an 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.

The Copilot AI service was used in the production of this text.

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