“Next year’s festival theme will be ‘Voices of the century’,” says Artistic Director Vladimir Mendelssohn. He has accordingly invited several living composers to come along, among them Kaija Saariaho, Magnus Lindberg, Arvo Pärt, Sofia Gubaidulina, Krzysztof Penderecki and György Kurtág. Each composer will have one day devoted to her or him. In the afternoon there will be special concerts at which each will talk to the audience, answer questions and have her/his music performed.

There will also be some one-day themes, such as “Don’t look back”, which will span from Orpheus to composers who have gazed into the future.

In among all the modern works will be many of the best-loved classics. Choral music and opera will continue on the programme. Many of this year’s artists have promised to come back. The number of concerts will basically be the same as this year.

“There will be interviews with Mozart and Vivaldi, who will also present their works and answer questions from the audience,” says Mendelssohn.

The 44th season of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival will run rom July 14 to July 27.

The programme will published and the ticket sales will begin in mid-January 2013.