In addition to the previously released orchestral concerts, the Game Music Collective and chamber musicians from Finland and the UK will be in the spotlight. The theme of the festival is Ode to Joy.
Mikkeli Music Festival will once again offer unique musical experiences for all ages from 3rd to 11 August 2024, with a diverse music programme that will take listeners on a musical journey of joy and light. As usual, the orchestral concerts, already released in August, will take centre stage. The remaining concerts are now on sale via Lippupiste.
The festival kicks off on Saturday 3.8. at 14.00 with a free festival Pre-Opening concert at the Stella shopping centre. The concert will feature soloists from the South Savo Music Theatre and Opera Association and will be hosted by the festival's artistic director, conductor Erkki Lasonpalo.
The official Opening Concert will take place in the evening at 19:00 in Mikaeli. One hundred or so musicians will take to the stage to perform the premiere of MMJ Young Composer of the Year Luukas Hiltunen's Scintillion piece, followed by Beethoven's Symphony No 9, under the baton of the festival's Young Artist of the Year, Aliisa Neige Barrière.
On Sunday afternoon 4 August at 15.00, soprano Iris Candelaria and pianist Jukka Nykänen will offer their August Afternoon Dreams in the Mikael Chamber Music Hall. The evening continues at 19.00 with an energetic performance by the Game Music Collective, featuring a unique game music concert performed by orchestra, choir and soloist Iris Candelaria.
The music will continue throughout the week with a variety of different bands. On Monday 5 August at 19.00, the Trio Mikkola-Lampenius-Helander will take the audience on an enchanting musical journey into the world of piano trios. Trio musicians Laura Mikkola (piano), Linda Lampenius (violin) and Jaani Helander (cello) have been playing together for years and have gained fame in Finland and abroad as soloists.
On Tuesday 6 August, the Vivo Symphony Orchestra of young musicians will perform under the direction of Erkki Lasonpalo, with 13-year-old top talent Lilja Haatainen as soloist. She has been a sensation in Mikkeli during the 2023 Music Festival and played as a soloist with the Mikkeli City Orchestra in highly acclaimed concerts.
On Wednesday, 7 August at 19.00 in the Pitäjänkirkko, you can hear ever-lovely melodies interpreted by baritone Waltteri Torikka and the Mikkeli City Orchestra in the Music of joy and light concert.
On Thursday 8 August, the London Philharmonia begins its series of concerts, the first of which will feature Brahms & Schumann, conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali with Swedish violin soloist Ava Bahari.
On Friday 9 August at 20.00, the Philharmonia celebrates the 200th anniversary of Bruckner's birth with Bruckner 200!, also conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali. This concert will feature the orchestra's own soloists.
On Saturday 10 August at 20.00, Mikaeli will host its Opera Gala for which occasion the Philharmonia will be conducted by Ville Matvejeff, who is well known in opera circles. Young international top soloists will take to the stage.
The festival culminates on Sunday 11 August with two great concerts. At 14.00, the Philharmonia chamber musicians will perform the chamber music concert From London with Joy.
For the Closing Concert at 20.00, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Erkki Lasonpalo will lead the audience on an unforgettable musical adventure, featuring Elgar's Cello Concerto and Sibelius' Symphony No 1. The soloist is our young cello virtuoso Jonathan Roozeman.
The Music Festival is undergoing a change of management, as Mikko Leppänen's contract as Festival Director for 2023 expires at the end of the year. The Board of Directors will announce the details of the governance arrangements in January.
More info:
Artistic Director Erkki Lasonpalo
artistic.director@mikkelinmusiikkijuhlat.fi, p. 040 147 4014
Chairman of the Board Markus Tykkyläinen
puheenjohtaja@mikkelinmusiikkijuhlat.fi, p. 050 596 5482
Ticket on sales at https://www.lippu.fi/artist/mikkelin-musiikkijuhlat/, as well as from Mikkeli Theater ticket sales point.
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