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"Though it’s naturally heartening to see Finnish musicians on a Finnish label keeping up the stream of Nordgren recordings, it’s high time the rest of the world caught on to this remarkable music."

"Lindberg makes use of characteristic stepwise harmonic progressions and a gorgeously bright orchestration, with brass fanfares and outbursts of solo piano."

"It's more about words than action, and, musically, more about continuity than sharp contrasts. Fagerlund's music is charged with eruptive energy, and provides a dark and sorrowful autumnal setting for the characters' emotional struggles."

The FMQ 2018 printed issue is now published and on its way to the subscribers! If you're not a subscriber, from 15 December on you can purchase a copy of this issue on our website. ​

The very first sounds in the concert run a chill up the spine: the beautiful musical language of accordionist Johanna Juhola combined with a vibrant, lucid soundscape captivate the listener. As the title of the concert promises, they create space.

Nordic Music Days has a hard time staying open, questioning and relevant when only Nordic folk are invited and the rest of the world is in awe of us. But the Helsinki edition gave it a good shot.

Watch defunensemble's concert from the G Livelab, Helsinki, as a 360 degree video.

“The Nordic Music Days is the mirror of the Nordic composers’ community. At the same time, it also represents a broader symbol of Nordic collaboration which, despite its challenges in reconciling different interests that sometimes feel insurmountable, can be seen as an example of a universal opportunity for collaboration between nations. As an added bonus, the festival occasionally enables access to interesting music.”

While climate change is a real concern for us all, there has not been a lot of noise about it on the music front so far. Committed climate action pioneers in Finland, however, include the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and the Flow Festival, both of which wish to set an example to other music organisations and provoke them to reflect on how to best participate in this endeavour that requires all humanity’s involvement.