Oulunsalo Soi Chamber Music Festival takes place in Oulu and Oulunsalo on 10–14 August. Consisting of eight concerts and an art exhibition opening, the festival brings top names in chamber music to the Oulu region for the 25th time. This is the pianist Mika Rännäli‘s first year as the artistic director of the festival.
“The inexhaustible treasure trove of the history of music is, in addition to the often played classics, full of wonderful works that, for one reason or another, have either never been performed or only very rarely,” Rännäli opens the theme of the festival. A good example is Paul Juon‘s rarely played masterpiece for piano trio from 1932, which will be heard in the Tulindberg Hall at the Sävelsilta Concert on Friday 12 August. In addition to Rännäli, the violinist Emma Vähälä and cellist Sennu Laine will perform at the concert.
Photographer and visual storyteller Aino Väänänen is the festival’s visual artist of the year. Her exhibition Vanishing Point is on display at the Oulunsalo library from 10 August to 29 September and it is organized in cooperation with the Northern Photographic Centre. The exhibition opening on Wednesday 8 August is part of the festival programme. The visual appearance of the festival is based on the works of the visual artist of the year.
Chamber Music Safari on Saturday
On Saturday 13 August the festival offers a full chamber music experience in form of a chamber music safari, which includes four very different concerts within walking distance of each other in the Oulu city centre. The tour starts with three hour-long concerts and ends with an almost two-hour evening jam, which brings together all the performers of the day for a musical evening. Jenni Kinnunen, the dramatist and artistic director of the Northern Opera Company, will be the guide for the safari.
A few picks from Saturday’s concerts: a solo concert at Läänihallitus by Ahti Alavillamo, who won the second prize in the Leevi Madetoja Piano Competition; a classic of all classics, an original version of Mozart‘s beautiful clarinet quintet at the Aleksinkulma Hall, and a wide range of vocal and piano music by female composers at Rio Live. The safari features soprano Helena Juntunen, clarinetist Michał Konopiński, violinists Emma Vähälä and Lasse Joamets, violist Johanna Tuikka, cellist Sennu Laine, and pianists Vanessa Cunha and Mika Rännäli.
Try Me Good King on the closing day
The festival Sunday takes us back to the roots of the festival at the Oulunsalo church, where two works of different styles and composed in different eras will be heard, interpreted by the Virtuosi di Kuhmo chamber orchestra. In addition to Felix Mendelssohn’s string octet, the prorgramme includes an intense Partita for string octet by the contemporary composer Sally Beamish.
The festival ends with the musical play Try Me Good King, which deals with the theme of the wrong use of power. American Libby Larsen’s song series Try Me, Good King is based on authentic letters from the wives of King Henry VIII of England and words spoken on the scaffold.
More info about the festival programme and tickets at the festival’s website: www.oulunsalosoi.fi
Oulunsalo Soi 2022 programme
Vanishing Point – Art Exhibition Opening of the Visual Artis of the Year
Wed 10 Aug at 18:00, Oulunsalo Library
Aino Väänänen
Exhibition open: 10 August – 29 September
Young Artist’s Lunch Concert
Thurs 11 Aug 12:00, Theatre Restaurant Vänmanni
Students from Oulu Conservatory
Bridge of Notes
Fri 12 Aug 19:00, Tulindberg Hall
Emma Vähälä, violin
Sennu Laine, cello
Mika Rännäli, piano
Dmitri Shostakovitsh (1906–1975): Piano trio No. 1, Op. 8, C minor
Paul Juon (1872–1940): Suite for piano, violin and cello Op. 89
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Piano trio No. 1, Op. 8, H Major
Chamber Music Safari
Sat 13 August 12:30–21, four concerts in the Oulu city centre
Future Promise
12:30, Lääninhallitus Hall
Solo concert by Ahti Alavillamo
Golden Dances of the Pharaohs
14:30, Aleksinkulma Hall
Michał Konopiński, clarinet/baset clarinet
Emma Vähälä, violin
Lasse Joamets, violin
Johanna Tuikka, viola
Sennu Laine, cello
Victoria Borisova-Ollas (1969-): Faaraoiden kultatanssit
Esa-Pekka Salonen (1958-): Homunculus
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791): Clarinet quintet, A Major, K. 581
Music by Women
17:00, Rio Live
Helena Juntunen, soprano
Vanessa Cunha, piano
Amy Beach (1867–1944): Four Sketches Op. 15
Ester Mägi (1922–2021): Lapi joiud
Maria Luisa Priolli (1915–2000): Improvisadinho
Arabesco
Alda Caminha (1899–1976): Evocação
Nida Marchioni (1921–2008): Batuque
Unsuk Chin (1961–): Etude No. 5 ”Toccata”
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805–1847): Dämmrung senkte sich von oben
Vorwurf Op 10 No. 2
Helvi Leiviskä (1902–1982): Runolintuni Op. 34 No. 1
Sydän, Op. 13 No. 1
Alma Mahler (1879–1964): In meines Vaters Garten
Ansturm
Der Erkennende
Lili Boulanger (1893–1918): Clarières dans le ciel
Clara Schumann (1819–1896): Ich stand in dunkle
Träumen Op. 13 No. 1
Am Strande
Laura Netzel (1839–1927): Ave Maria Op. 41
Evening Jam
19:00, Rio Live
Helena Juntunen, soprano
Michał Konopiński, clarinet
Emma Vähälä, violin
Lasse Joamets, violin
Johanna Tuikka, viola
Sennu Laine, cello
Vanessa Cunha, piano
Mika Rännäli, piano
Soulmates
Sun 14 Aug at 15:00, Oulunsalo Church
Virtuosi di Kuhmo Chamber Orchestra
Anna-Leena Haikola, Petri Aarnio, Kati Kuusava, Terhi Paldanius, violin
Riitta-Liisa Ristiluoma, Olli Kilpiö, viola
Jussi Vähälä, Mikko Ivars, cello
Sally Beamish (1956–): Partita for string octet
Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847): String octet
Try Me Good King
Sun 14 Aug at 18:00, Cultural Centre Valve, Valvesali Hall
Dramaturgy and director: Kati Outinen
Choreography and director: Minna Tervamäki
Lights: Janne Teivainen
Costumes: Minna Tervamäki ja Anja Behm
Music: Libby Larsen, Tobias Hume, William Byrd, Jacques-Martin Hotteterre and Henrik VIII
Pia Freund, soprano
Kati Outinen, actress
Minna Tervamäki, dancer
Pauliina Fred, traverso ja recorder
Louna Hosia, viola da gamba
Petteri Pitko, harpsichord
