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24.7.2010

This can't be true! That's how I felt, when in 1985, I came to Kuhmo for the first time. I had heard songs of praise but I still couldn't believe what I found here to be true. Artists, one finer and virtuosi more fabulous than the next went on stage, the atmosphere was relaxed just as if the performers and the audience had been old friends, top class artists cycled all over Kuhmo, their cellos on their backs, in the summer night music just went on and on, until  the audience was close to lose consciousness but still asked for encores. I just can't forget the heated atmosphere of the first festival summers.

A quarter of a century has passed. I'm a different person now, Kuhmo is a different festival. However, arriving here, I unavoidably meet with memories from previous summers, with my youth, irrevocably gone. It's as if events I have experienced, people I have met, words spoken, sounds I have heard, would have remained in the air, like sparks from a fire, as if sunsets, moonlit nights and mists going years back, would still be present, all simultaneously. 

The festival isn't the same anymore, and it shouldn't be. What earlier, in the heat of summer nights, made people laugh at the Kontio School so that the chairs gave way under the listeners, today this kind of jokes maybe would only arouse embarrassed smiles. The world has changed irrevocably, the festival has to change with it.

Then, long ago, I came to Kuhmo as a journalist, I was more of a listener. Now, I'm one of those three hundred people who run the festival. There is less time for concerts now, days are busy,  thoughts are full of working problems and worries of life. However, when late in the evening, I make it to the concert hall and when I see the enthusiasm of the audience, then again I recall why this job is worth the effort. And when, on rare occasions, I cycle around Kuhmo, inhaling air, smelling of resin from the forests, heated by the sun, then I feel strangely happy, as if a part of me belonged here, to these two ephemeral summer weeks, beyond wild forests and sparkling waters. 

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

23.7.2010

Aah! A hot sauna, a refreshing swim in the middle of the night, raindrops falling gently on the calm surface of the lake. Could a long day culminate in a more pleasant way? After this festival's first sauna evening, I understood, better than before, why the artists tend to return to Kuhmo, year after year. This is the best way to recover after playing all day and recharge your batteries. The sauna parties are a part of Kuhmo's attraction. Unfortunately, the audience do not have access to them, as musicians need a moment when they can be private individuals. 

On Thursday, the concert halls were gratifyingly full. We had heard classic pieces, such as Vivaldi's Flute Concerto, as well as rarities, such as Silvestrov's Serenades for Solo Violin. Today will be continued in a spirit of versatility. The long evening concert is announced as a Brief Dictionary of the Cold War, and accordingly, we will hear music from both sides of the Iron Curtain, from Gershwin to Ligeti.

Today, I discussed the 2011 festival with Vladimir Mendelssoh, and his plans sounded truly interesting. Thematically, it will be about folk music and the relationship between folklore and chamber music. He also mentioned interesting guest performers, although they can't be revealed before tomorrow's press conference. But I can promise that next summer the future audience will have the same problem as this year's visitors had: which dates should be chosen, as every day is full of interesting music.

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press office

22.7.2010

A flock of returned bicycles is gathering at the festival office yard, the first grand pianos are folding their wings before starting their return voyage. It's as if the rowanberries have become redder and birds position themselves on the electric wires like notes on staff lines. One feels autumn approaching.

The day after tomorrow, maybe the hottest Kuhmo Chamber Music festival is over. However, the festival is not going to retire for hibernation. As a festival is completed, the planning and preparations for the next one are underway. Much work is ahead in order to offer an even better festival. 

But it's no use hankering, as I'm writing this there are still 15 concerts left, i.e. more concerts than most ordinary festivals can offer, in all. Today, with great interest, I'm particularly expecting the evening concert, where Russian music, from Stravinsky to Schnittke will be performed. One of the themes this evening being birds, we will of course listen to Fire Birds and Vivaldi's Flute Concerto "Il Gardellino", as well as, music from a film called Gadfly. 

No end of the fun feelings yesterday either. On the contrary, the Penderecki event appeared to be one of the high points of the festival, immediately, from Alexander Gebert's brilliant performance of the Divertimento. And of course, Kremerata Baltica offered us as utterly finished performances as one could wish for.

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office 

21.7.2010

Today is a typical festival day when classics meet with contemporary music in a refreshing way. In the afternoon, I heard Hommage à T.S. Eliot by Sofia Gubaidulina, a composer known to Kuhmo audiences since long ago. With astounding artistry, this impressive and elegant work was executed by Piia Komsi. I met Gubaidulina at Kuhmo two years ago, and I remember the gaze of this humble artist, glowing with inner force. The evening ended with the eagerly expected Penderecki concert, where the composer was present and told us about his work.

How I would like to find the time to attend all the events! In addition to what is on offer, one should try to listen to the student concerts, as they seem to be of very high standard this year. The courses are an essential part of Kuhmo. Many generations of Finnish musicians have been trained here, and the students of the first years will soon reach retirement age. This summer, stars of the future are surely appearing here - as a matter of fact, many Finnish artists have started their career as students at the Kuhmo courses. 

However, you can get your voice heard outside the concerts, as well, even I have appeared at Kuhmo, by now. No, the musicians aren't that tired yet, and Vladimir Mendelssohn doesn't have to pick performers from the festival office. It was all Pekka Kuusisto's and Iiro Rantala's fault. In their fine concert, they played pieces, such as Lievestuoreen Liisa and  Adios Muchachos and, performing the Nuoruustango, they ordered the audience to hum with them. In the end, the audience had to go to the lake, having quite a new experience: the sunset coloured the surface of lake Lammasjärvi red, Pekka Kuusisto conducted, and we sung  the song Nälkämaan laulu, so that the forest on the other side of the lake resounded. Usually, community singing presents so many tonalities and different rhythms simultaneously that a composer of contemporary music would never dare to propose such a score to a choir. However, at Kuhmo, even the audience is outstanding, so our song was in the range of a chamber choir, with exception of the untuned baryton, singing at my side.

Juhani Koivisto, lehdistöpäällikkö

20.7.2010

Now we have heard a rarity, such as a six the Ondes Martenot ensemble. In the wailing sound of this early electric musical instrument, you could hear the belief in the triumph of electricity and the brave new world of the 30s.

It's remarkable, by the way, that the first electric instruments, the Theremin and the Ondes Martenot have remained in use, whereas the much younger synthesizers already are problem waste. We can easily understand music from hundreds of years ago, while the computer is unable to deal with a few years old program. After all, are we wiser than the machines?

Yesterday evening, this year's second guest composer Krzysztof Penderecki arrived. He appeared to be a straightforward and friendly person. In spite of a 15 hours flight back from Lebanon, Penderecki has generously been giving interviews. When a person really is a great human being, there is no need to underline it.

In Penderecki's next work, there should be at least a few notes, written at Kuhmo. He told us he had woken op at six and written on his most recent work, Polish songs, that celebrate Chopin's 200 year anniversary.  Hopefully, the wild lake landscape behind his window brought him inspiration.

Today, there has been three sold out concerts, all in a row. The last concert features Pekka Kuusisto and Iiro Rantala. I suspect the performers yet do not know what exactly they are going to play and how long the concert will last. What could be more thrilling?

Juhaní Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

19.7.2010

The day has been so sunny that the element of water has been tempting: the concerts called  Upstream and Towards the Sea were sold out.  The Trout Quintet guaranteed success of the morning, as it is the most popular composition of all times at Kuhmo, and it's performed every summer by a different team. The water theme of the day leads us to a very special work: Olivier Messiaen's Fête des belles eaux.  As midnight approaches, Messiaen's music is interpreted by six Ondes Martenots, the pioneering electric instrument. At Kuhmo, nearly every year, rare music instruments have been heard, such as glass accordion and theremin. This year, in addition to the ondes martenot, there was another curiosity, the baryton, the string instrument for which Haydn composed a rich repertoire.

Well over a half of the concerts are behind and the musicians have done long days. However, sometimes fatigue can have surprising consequences. Jordi Savall told us how he had conducted the recording of Mozart's Requiem and, in the middle of the night, wanted to repeat the Lacrimosa movement. The singers had been too tired but, still, made a try. And this take was included in the record. 

Sometimes, fatigue can free a person from restraints, it also can help to overcome one's inhibitions. The festival approaching the end, both artists and listeners are nerves on edge. This can result in fine, unique and mindboggling moments in the concert hall,

Again, new people have arrived at Kuhmo: last night, Gidon Kremer and his Kremerata Baltica came, and tonight Krzysztof Penderecki is expected. The second festival week is going to be at least as inspiring as the first.

On top of it all, a variety of art manifestations is on offer at Kuhmo. For instance, works of Gallen-Kallela and Sparre, from the Kuhmo region, are displayed at the Osuuspankki exhibition. Luckily, I found the time to go and see this small but representative exhibition. Go, and have a look at the achievements Kuhmo has inspired others than musicians.  

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

18.7.2010

”The statue of Lenin has been found, but now we still need 10 sickles.”

Is that a line from a founding meeting of a New Left-wing ecological farm? Oh, no, this one was pronounced at the festival's morning meeting. One has to get used to that props may be needed on a very short notice. Paraphernalia is especially needed for "Der Kaiser von Atlantis". Created at a concentration camp, in 1943, the performance of the opera is one of the highlights in the festival programme. In the text and the music, something of the atmosphere of that era are concentrated, in a unique. Death is the topic, or the fact that death refuses to work. The importance of Death is acknowledged, and it appears as a liberator: ”Come, Death, liberate us from anguish and the burden of our lives, bring us to rest after all that pain and sorrow.

The creators of this work, as well as, the presumed audience knew very well what was happening around them, and both the composer and the librettist died at Auschwitz. Today, I polished the Finnish translation, and I'm convinced of the importance of this work. It can be said to be a musical monument to the victims of war.

In this afternoon's concert, I realised how the problem of Finland's power production could be solved without nuclear plants. You just have to invent a device to collect all the energy created as Bartok and Meta4 meet. Now, we heard truly electrified playing. I couldn't listen to the last movement, though, as I had to rush in order to take care of Jordi Savall's interviews. He appeared to be as friendly and easygoing a person as I had presumed. In a moment, a good portion of viola da gamba playing will be heard.

Today, by the way, a stagehand candidate felt nervous about his employment interview. The day before already, he had, asked for a regular reference from last summer, and went to ask for the job. At this time of the day we still do not know if his CV and his experience will be adequate for a stagehand's demanding task. By the way, he really is pianist Paavali Jumppanen who, last summer, in addition to playing, also wanted to push it around a bit. Now, for the matter, may be one of the stagehands is being tested by Vladimir Mendelssohn for a job as a member of a string quartet. 

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

16.7.2010

My day started with life-saving. A young bird hade got lost in the foyer of the Kuhmo Arts Centre, bumping against the windows, eventually it remained on the floor its beak open, moving its small dark eyes. I managed to grab it with my hand and took it outside, put it on a garden table, covered with raindrops, stroke its tender feathers and told it to take a rest before the next attempt to fly. And so it happened that the table was empty after our morning meeting. I know I have infringed the safety regulations due to bird flu, but I thought it was more important to obey the festival rules: nobody can get in without a ticket.

For a place with less than 10 000 inhabitants, Kuhmo is a pretty lively town. This weekend, there will be a fair and an exhibition of old cars. The number of festival guests is reaching the maximum, shops and restaurants are full of people and, between concerts, the pavements are crowded. The smallness of this town is one of its benefits, all concert venues and the other services are on a walk distance. For a cyclist, Kuhmo is ideal, as there are good routes and the terrain is even.

We have heard a lot of new and interesting music, at Kuhmo, although today, the programme is on quite classical lines, as it starts with Haydn and ends with Schubert. For my part, as well as for the rest of the staff, concerts will not amount to much today, as the festival is reaching its busiest time.

The first tunes of the day were more than expected: raindrops fell on the glass and a fresh breeze groaned quietly. However, short is the memory of a person, tired of the heath. At noon, already, while cycling on my way to lunch, I fretted at my wet knees.

This year, there are more events for children than before. Today, the kids have the opportunity to put questions to pianist Paavali Jumppanen. Yesterday, Martti Rousi introduced them to his cello. The children asked matter-of-fact and, sometimes, even knotty questions while Rousi replied in a pleasant way. The last question was the trickiest. A little boy showed his tiny and asked Rousi: "How fast can one drive this Ferrari?" Although the question was somewhat surprising, the cellist presumed it could make 250 kilometres an hour and the boy was pleased. At Kuhmo, a musician has to be prepared for anything.

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

15.7.2010

A crowded hall, an enthusiastic atmosphere, a storm of applause, autograph collectors after the performance - and questions. Did we hear the Trout Quintet? Oh no, we are here to listen to new and quite serious chamber music, and to discuss it. People were listening without a frown, no difficult terms were used, just interesting communication was experienced.

This sweltering afternoon, Kaija Saariaho had mobilized people, indeed. Now wonder, her music is appreciated and she is thought highly of. Despite a tight schedule, she has been answering questions willingly, she has told about her music in an interesting way, agreed to be interviewed and photographed numerous times. I would have liked to take my hat off to her although it's impossible to wear one in this heat.

At Kuhmo, we had a true women's day today. Thematically, the music has  been related to women and, among the composers  there were two women, Silvia Colasanti and Kaija Saariaho. Yesterday, we heard music composed by Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann, whose piano concerto was brilliantly performed by  Natacha Kudritskaja, followed by a storm of applause. The male bastions are cracking, in music, as well as in other areas - yesterday, the concerts were attended by Finland's female Prime Minister.

At Kuhmo, listeners have always had opportunities to make finds, listen to forgotten works, to little known composers, or listen to unusual instruments. Yesterday's find was the string quartet by Alfred Mendelssohn, dynamically interpreted by Meta4. The audience surely didn't know that the composer is Vladimir Mendelssohn's father, as the festival's Artistic Director has been reluctant to push himself or his family forward as composers.

The evening ends with Piazzolla's opera María de Buenos Aires. It is a truly special case as, over the years, I have written résumés for more than a hundred operas and, I had now, for the first time to put my hands up.  How do you condense a poem written in a language into a narrative when it's written in a language anchored in a catholic Latin-American mindset. Luckily, the performance is subtitled so that, hopefully, I'll soon understand what it's all about. But I'm sure that Piazzolla's ecstatic tango music is going to raise the atmosphere at the Kuhmo Arts Centre, up to the twinkling constellations on the roof of the concert hall.

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

12.7.2010

What? Are they saving in performance fees so much that the listeners now have to perform for each other? The festival really started with teaching songs to the audience for this evening's concert.

However, the blame for this cannot be put on the financial state of affairs but on the composer  – Benjamin Britten wanted to include the audience in the performance and had the idea to use it as a choir. So barriers were broken between performers and audience, and that's always been the goal at the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival.

The performance ended with tremendous applause and bravos, and why not, as for once, one could clap to oneself.

The first event was over and 66 were left. Those who work at Kuhmo see the festival from a different angle than the audience. Unfortunately, one hasn't the time to attend concerts, especially the daytime events. Now I luckily had the opportunity to listen to Kaija Saariaho's fine string quartet. In my civilian profession at the National Opera, I have had the opportunity to get familiar with Saariaho's operas, and I'm convinced that she is one of the most important contemporary composers.  In addition to that her style is always evolving and hearing her new works is always an  interesting experience. Brilliant, we got her to visit Kuhmo as the composer in residence of the first festival week. Actually, her works radiate into the programme of the whole week, as Vladimir Mendelssohn just told in the press conference that the programme of a concert is always made to match the Saariaho composition of that evening.

I managed to meet Kaija Saariahon briefly before the concert and it struck me again why 310 people and myself manage to plod on with our work nearly 24 hours a day during two hot summer weeks. Meeting talented and charismatic people always gives you new strength. Exposure of that kind over two weeks helps you to get along the whole winter.

Besides the concerts, this summer's heat may stay in one's memories. Today there were some clouds and it rained for a little while but temperatures are on the raise. Luckily Vladimir Mendelssohn has, for to-night's concert,  far-sightedly programmed pieces such as Vent nocturne, Regenlied, Raindrops and Jeux d'eau.

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office

11.7.2010

How exciting! Today it starts and goes on for two weeks.

Only yesterday, Kuhmo was just a very calm little town, in the midst of the big forests, far away from the metropolises - from tomorrow, for two hectic weeks, Kuhmo is one of the musical centres of the world. Most of the foreign guests of the chamber music festival will not notice the difference, they will enter the festival world straight on. What is ahead, what are we going to experience over these two weeks? Although everything is prepared and planned in advance as carefully as possible, the unexpected is part of art.

There will be changes. The audience will certainly not notice the first big change, though. Today, the rehearsal schedules had to be changed due to an event more important than chamber music. Initially, rehearsals were planned for very late this evening but now the schedule is altered so that there is a break between 21:00 and 23:00 o'clock. The football World Cup finale is a must! A video projector has been installed at the Pajakka Hall where an international bunch of musicians will gather to spend thrilling moments. If only we could find a vuvuzela it would be possible to hear what proper musicians can get out of this instrument - a plague of football grounds. Or, as somebody just said: it's truly irritating - every time one listens to a vuvuzela concert on television, they start playing football.

Juhani Koivisto, Head of the Press Office