Stories by

"The extensive output for male choir of Toivo Kuula (1883–1918) inspired two Finnish male choirs to release a complete recording on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of his birth. This allows for a tantalising direct comparison..."

Three internationally acclaimed Finnish choreographers - Marjo Kuusela, Kenneth Kvarnström and Tero Saarinen - describe how movement and music engage in dialogue in their dance works.

Schubert plays while you are threatened at gunpoint. A Saami yoik is refined into Japanese temple music. The soundscape for Le sacre du printemps is created from the rasping breathing of dancers. The sounds of contemporary dance works increasingly occupy a no-man’s-land between conventional composition and sound art.

"Pekka Kuusisto astounds the listener once again with his agility in Lindberg’s Violin Concerto (2006), a virtuoso work that is one of his most successful scores."

"How does a performance by three dancers merge with, differ from, complement or disagree with an enormous symphonic monolith? After all, Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony has already been interpreted, explained and provided with a note-by-note narrative time and time again. Personal Symphonic Moment by Elina Pirinen embraces the challenge."

"Our Nation is musically relaxed and witty. Shine 2009 know their musical history yet reach forward in a way that might reflect the way Pykäri and Suova would like Finland circa 2013 to be."

A Sixth Symphony, orchestral solo songs, an organ concerto, sonatas for most wind instruments, six new string quartets… not to speak of a world-embracing opera plan and ideas about making a computer clone of oneself.

The Finnish capital is currently home to a thriving stage poetry scene, thanks to the determined efforts of Helsinki Poetry Connection. The group arranges jam sessions where poetry and music are often combined in unexpected ways.

Pianist and piano teacher Matti Raekallio reflects in the FMQ issue 2/2012 on the International Maj Lind Piano Competition 2012, held in Helsinki, where he will be a jury member.