Olli Kortekangas 70 years

Olli Kortekangas, one of the most significant opera composers in Finland, turns 70, and the Musiikkitalo’s organ joins the celebration with two organists, a choir, and top baritone Ville Rusanen. The fourth sonata, Snow, will have its premiere in the jubilee concert. The baritone joins the organist in two parts, both as a vocaliser and as an interpreter of a text by the Indian-American poet Meena Alexander (1951–2018).

The second half of the concert will feature the premiere of the choir version of Vähän ennen yötä (Just before Nightfall). The piece is meditative in nature and its text boldly addresses the fundamental questions of our existence. Although evening music, vesper, is associated with the Christian tradition in particular, the text of Vähän ennen yötä is universal and spiritual without referring to a specific religion.