The splendid wintertime city festival, Oulu Music Festival, will bring a wide range of Finnish and international artists to Oulu. The new Artistic Director Jaakko Kuusisto has prepared a programme of premiere performances, major productions, chamber concerts and club events, together with master classes in classical and rhythm music. The Music On Top Jazz Festival will coincide with this year’s festivities.
”The chamber music concerts held at the Ballroom of the Oulu Town Hall have three parts. First come the composers who have been called the Holy Trinity of the classical music: Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. Then we introduce Finnish music of our time, amongst which is the debut concert of our own all-around genius Marzi Nyman. These concerts end in the fanfare of the most glorious and influential chamber music works, and most glorious are also the international visiting artists who make the Artistic Director hum with pleasure. During the week, these thrilling musicians also act as teachers on our Master courses bringing young talent to Oulu to get inspiration from the world’s top musicians and to enjoy music experiences with us. Also, what is wonderful is following week’s concert on Sunday, which highlights the local knowledge and musical entrepreneurship.
Minna Tervamäki and Kimmo Pohjonen are both powerful artists and experts on their own fields. They combine their strengths on Wednesday the 13 March in their premier show Bright Shadow, in which Kimmo’s music meets Minna’s language of movement. A thrilling other dance performance happens at Valvesali when dancer Pirjo Yli-Maunula is dressed in a musical costume, made out of paper. This new kind of dance piece is called Susurro. Friday the 15 March is a special day for the film and film music fans when the horror classic Psycho is shown at Madetoja Hall with the original music performed by the Oulu Symphony Orchestra.
Jaakko and Iiro’s Bar offers soulful music in a relaxed atmosphere on three nights at the beginning of the week at Vanha Paloasema Bar & Bistro. Come with a friend, have a drink and enjoy the music! Towards the end of the week, it is time for rhythm music celebration, which starts with the Nordic FOLKfest on Thursday the 21 March at Uusi Seurahuone. The following day, the international JAZZhouse is joined by the jazz legends Bob Mintzer and Peter Erskine at Oulu City Theatre. The highlight of the week is on Saturday the 23 March, when Jo Stance and Angelique Kidjo get on stage at Club Teatria. The far ends of opera are joined together when the dark-comical opera, Camping Area Opera (Leirintäalueooppera), premiers. Camping Area Opera and the festival end around Easter with the 200-performer strong Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Jaakko Kuusisto
Artistic Director
