Flamenco

The Helsinki Flamenco Bienal festival is the latest blossoming of Finland’s passion for flamenco, which dates back to the 1960s. The Spanish style continues to inspire original cross-genre work by Finnish artists in its three main areas: guitar, vocals and dance.

"Being a flamenco singer in Finland is not the easiest of career choices. One has to be thoroughly familiar with the genre yet be completely genuine and personal in one’s expression. Anna Murtola is clearly finding an identity of her own," writes Tove Djupsjöbacka in her review of Anna Murtola's latest album La tierra blanca.

The many branches of the Roma people have influenced musical cultures throughout Europe. The voice of Finland's ancient, original Roma minority can be heard especially in the tango and 'iskelmä', but the Roma's own, strong musical tradition has only been brought into mainstream culture in recent years.

"Anna Murtola is the first among Finnish flamenco singers to bravely go ahead and release her own record."

Artists choosing an art form outside the mainstream will find themselves frequently answering the question: Why? Kaari and Roni Martin have created many notable works of contemporary art using the language of flamenco.

The Helsinki Universal Guitar Festival features all the dimensions of six strings.