Oulu Music Festival 2027: Opening Concert – Trio Gaspard & Hajr

The opening concert of Oulu Music Festival 2027 brings Haydn into dialogue with the present day, while European chamber music meets the sounds of the Middle East.

The festival opens with an exciting world premiere: a new duet composed by Sampo Kasurinen for Oulu Music Festival’s Artistic Director, violist Lilli Maijala,and double bassist Olivier Thiery. säveltämä uusi duetto.

The first half of the concert centres on Joseph Haydn – but from a slightly unexpected perspective. Internationally acclaimed Trio Gaspard is known for its special relationship with Haydn’s music and its extensive project exploring the composer’s piano trios. In Oulu, the trio will perform Haydn’s Piano Trio in A major, “Capriccio”.

Haydn also emerges in a completely different light. Swiss composer and violinist Helena Winkelmanin Threesome in a High-den is a commissioned work by Trio Gaspard that draws on Haydn’s life – from his relationships and old age to the colourful events at the Esterházy court. Winkelman also plays with elements of Haydn’s music, examining the composer centuries later in a mischievous, imaginative manner and through a distinctly contemporary musical language.

After the interval, the perspective shifts. Iranian-born kamancha master Misagh Joolaee and Palestinian oud artist Bakr Khleifi form the Hajr-duo, whose music brings two ancient instrumental traditions together with the composers’ own musical worlds. For the evening’s finale, they are joined by pianist and Oulu Music Festival’s other Artistic Director, who has long explored the world of Arabic music: Kari Ikonen.

The opening concert takes the listener from Haydn’s Vienna and the Esterházy court, through new Finnish music, to the sound worlds of the Middle East. The programme brings different eras, cultures and musical traditions together, offering fresh perspectives on each.

PROGRAM

Sampo Kasurinen (b. 1990): Commissioned work for viola and double bass – world premiere

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809): Piano Trio in A major “Capriccio”, Hob. XV:35
I. Capriccio (Allegretto)
II. Menuet
III. Finale (Allegro)

Helena Winkelman (b. 1974): Threesome in a High-den
I. Xanthippe and the holy brothers
II. Gone is all my strength, old and weary I have become
III. Pay’d in wine and other Esterházy scandals

— intermission —

Misagh Joolaee: Khalvat Gozideh
Bakr Khleifi: Sharid
Bakr Khleifi: Samai Kurd
Misagh Joolaee: Bahari

PERFORMERS

Trio Gaspard
Jonian Ilias Kadesha, violin
Vashti Hunter, cello
Nicholas Rimmer, piano

Lilli Maijala, viola
Olivier Thiery, double bass

Hajr
Misagh Joolaee, kamancha
Bakr Khleifi, ud

Kari Ikonen, piano

Duration approx. 2 h (including intermission).

You can pre-order the intermission refreshments from restaurant Preludi´s online store: bestorante.com

The concert is part of Oulu Music Festival 16.–25.3.2027. Explore the full festival program at omj.fi

TICKETS

32 € Regular
27 € Pensioner
19 € Student, unemployed, conscripts and non-military serviceman, children (age 3–17)

Prices include handling fees. Tickets without handling fees are available from the Valve ticket office. A separate service fee of €3.50 per order is charged when purchasing tickets from the Ticketmaster box office, or €2.00 per order when purchasing from the Ticketmaster online store.

A limited number of Kaikukortti-tickets are available.

TICKET SALES LOCATIONS

Ticketmaster Finland nationwide
Oulu Sinfonia ticket office, Leevi Madetojan katu 3
Ticket office of Cultural Centre Valve, Hallituskatu 7, Oulu.
At the door an hour before the event, if available.

ACCESSIBILITY

The first-floor facilities of the Music Centre are accessible. There are unobstructed routes to the lobbies, halls, and restaurant areas. An accessible restroom for persons with reduced mobility is located at the left end of the cloakroom area in the Madetoja Hall lobby. For more information, visit the Oulu Music Centre website: oulunmusiikkikeskus.fi.

The event is organized by Oulun musiikkijuhlasäätiö sr. Organizer reserves the right to make changes.