Domestic Review of New Music

Why is contemporary music so difficult – or is it?

In the spring, the Turku Music Festival and the Finnish Composers invited composers from across the country to submit new works through an open call. A total of 91 responses were received from 65 composers, of which eight compositions were selected for the program.

Two award-winning composers, Lauri Porra, winner of the Jussi Award, and Osmo Tapio Räihälä, winner of the Finlandia Award, will lead the evening’s discussion. They will guide the audience into the world of composition together with the composers themselves, opening up new perspectives and lowering the threshold for encountering new music.

The concert program features fresh and bold compositions by Heta Ahola, Sebastian Hilli, Minna Leinonen, Juho Laitinen, and others. The works highlight the diversity of contemporary Finnish music: intense moods, delicate harmonies, and surprising forms. The overview of contemporary Finnish music offers a unique opportunity to hear the voices of composers curated by the Turku Music Festival. This evening is for anyone who wants to experience something new, gain a better understanding, and perhaps be surprised.