2009 Sibelius Festival - Lahti, Finland

Tapio Dmitriyevich · October 12, 2009, 07:07:21 AM

Tap, tap, tap!

Dana · October 12, 2009, 09:24:16 AM

OK guys, this isn't working. It's time for plan B. **Sends carrier pigeon off to the large hadron collider**

Air · October 12, 2009, 12:42:16 PM

http://www.talkclassical.com/6688-sibelius-festival-lahti-2009-a.html

I hope this helps.

When Tap gets online, I'll tell him to get over to this side too.

Tapkaara · October 12, 2009, 01:34:15 PM

Hello all!

I have been away, but my friend Rex has madly waved his hands at me, and I now realize how I'd forgotten to update my Lahti experiences in this thread!

I shall have a report in a few days, worry not. I'll gather some photos as well.

Dana · October 12, 2009, 01:35:42 PM

Quote from: RexRichter on October 12, 2009, 12:42:16 PMTapkaara's been traitorously posting on another forum while holding out on us.

**Gasps** There's someone else??!

LapsangS · October 12, 2009, 09:57:14 PM

These Sibelius fans have their own forum at http://sibelius.forumup.com/.
That's where they have been hiding from us

schweitzeralan · October 13, 2009, 08:58:19 AM

Quote from: Tapkaara on August 27, 2009, 03:40:13 PM
In about a week and a half I will embark to Finland to attend the 2009 Sibelius Festival in Lahti. This consists of three evenings of Sibelius symphonic works and two afternoons or chamber works.

For more info, and to see what's on the menu, you can check out the event's program online:

http://www.sinfonialahti.fi/sibelius/en_GB/sibelius

It's the Lahti Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. The venue is the newish Sibelius Hall (built in 2000) which resides on the shore of a lake.

Needless to say, I am excited as hell to hear Sibelius performed on his native soil.

I'm also taking a trip to Ainola, the composer's estate, before the start of the festival the evening of the 10th,

Once I get back, I will have some photos which I will be sure to share with you here.

Question: Is the general Finnish population knowledgeable or appreciative of its many fine native Finnish composers, besides Sibelius, of course? Composers like Madetoja, Klami, Palmgren, Aho, Englund, Melartin, Merrikanto (Sp.), and others? My ongoing belief is that here in the USA, there are indeed those interested and dedicated concert goers; but these are, or tend to be, a minority of the general population. People who contribute to this forum are indeed well informed, as are, of course, the conservatory graduates et. al. Yet as I see it, now as I have for many years, the vast majority of the public does not seem or appear to have all that much interest in the music of, let's say, Roy Harris, Barber, Schuman, Robert Ward, Mennin, Piston, Barber or Hanson. Our Pop Culture continues to thrive.

matti · October 13, 2009, 10:31:00 AM

A short answer to a long question: no. Finns in general are not more knowledgeable about their composers than other people about the composers in their own countries. Even in the case of Sibelius, many would recognize Finlandia and Valse Triste, but other than those... no.

Merikanto though, not Aarre, but his father Oskar is in a way better known than Sibelius. He wrote many songs that are in the middleground between classical and popular - and most Finns would know this song, for instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLdOaDbSl3s&feature=related

Other Finns on this forum are free to disagree, of course!

Dana · October 13, 2009, 01:52:09 PM

Quote from: schweitzeralan on October 13, 2009, 08:58:19 AMComposers like Madetoja, Klami, Palmgren, Aho, Englund, Melartin, Merrikanto (Sp.), and others?

Who?

schweitzeralan · October 13, 2009, 06:04:54 PM

Quote from: matti on October 13, 2009, 10:31:00 AM
A short answer to a long question: no. Finns in general are not more knowledgeable about their composers than other people about the composers in their own countries. Even in the case of Sibelius, many would recognize Finlandia and Valse Triste, but other than those... no.

Merikanto though, not Aarre, but his father Oskar is in a way better known than Sibelius. He wrote many songs that are in the middleground between classical and popular - and most Finns would know this song, for instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLdOaDbSl3s&feature=related

Other Finns on this forum are free to disagree, of course!

Interesting to know. I guess the propensities toward classical music, art, literature, remains for the few anywhere. I personally have come to appreciate many works composed by Finnish composers. Rautavaara and Sallinen happen to be the latest. I've always wanted to visit Helsinki.

CRCulver · October 14, 2009, 01:57:03 AM

Quote from: schweitzeralan on October 13, 2009, 08:58:19 AM
Question: Is the general Finnish population knowledgeable or appreciative of its many fine native Finnish composers, besides Sibelius, of course?

The majority of the population does not listen to classical music. However, the mass media does give more attention to the arts than in, say, the US. Rautavaara got a long feature on the evening news for his 80th birthday, and an interview with Magnus Lindberg was aired after the recent premiere of his piece Grafitti. Subsequently, I'd say that the general Finnish public is more knowledgeable about their native composers, at least in the sense that they realize that people are still composing (while in the US the notion of "living classical music composer" strikes many as odd). Furthermore, while in some countries a person who enjoys contemporary composers is mocked by his peers for his "weird music", Finnish society is in my experience completely accepting of such tastes, even if they aren't shared by too much of the population.

matti · October 14, 2009, 03:47:40 AM

^ True.

schweitzeralan · October 14, 2009, 05:02:41 AM

Quote from: CRCulver on October 14, 2009, 01:57:03 AM
The majority of the population does not listen to classical music. However, the mass media does give more attention to the arts than in, say, the US. Rautavaara got a long feature on the evening news for his 80th birthday, and an interview with Magnus Lindberg was aired after the recent premiere of his piece Grafitti. Subsequently, I'd say that the general Finnish public is more knowledgeable about their native composers, at least in the sense that they realize that people are still composing (while in the US the notion of "living classical music composer" strikes many as odd). Furthermore, while in some countries a person who enjoys contemporary composers is mocked by his peers for his "weird music", Finnish society is in my experience completely accepting of such tastes, even if they aren't shared by too much of the population.

I understand and believe you.

Air · October 24, 2009, 11:00:19 AM

Quote from: Dana on October 12, 2009, 01:35:42 PM
**Gasps** There's someone else??!

LOL he came and left again...

Tapkaara · April 04, 2010, 05:17:19 PM

Do people still want photos of this trip that happened in September last year?

mahler10th · April 05, 2010, 02:56:09 AM

YES. I have grown a full beard and made pension plans while I've been waiting. I also had a full head of hair before I started waiting for this...alas, now gone...

Tapkaara · April 05, 2010, 08:42:56 AM

Quote from: John on April 05, 2010, 02:56:09 AM
YES. I have grown a full beard and made pension plans while I've been waiting. I also had a full head of hair before I started waiting for this...alas, now gone...

OK, I'll see to this this evening. Needless to say, the experience was amazing. I was joined by the various members of the UK Sibelius Society and what a colorful (or shall we say colourful) bunch they are. More later...

bhodges · April 05, 2010, 08:48:34 AM

Hi Erik, nice to see you around! I'd certainly enjoy seeing some photos from that.

--Bruce

Tapkaara · April 05, 2010, 11:47:56 AM

Quote from: bhodges on April 05, 2010, 08:48:34 AM
Hi Erik, nice to see you around! I'd certainly enjoy seeing some photos from that.

--Bruce

Yeah I guess I was on hiatus...

mahler10th · April 05, 2010, 12:36:30 PM

Quote from: Tapkaara on April 05, 2010, 08:42:56 AM
OK, I'll see to this this evening. Needless to say, the experience was amazing. I was joined by the various members of the UK Sibelius Society and what a colorful (or shall we say colourful) bunch they are. More later...

Right. Well. We still have to wait then...