Estimated duration
10 h
Organizer
Helsinki Early Music Festival, Suomalainen barokkiorkesteri & Musiikkitalo
There’s a buzz and bubbling around the Aria Borealis singing competition! The pre-event and side events offer plenty of free activities.
The Boreallas side events offer a wide range of free activities: music performances, panel discussions, participatory art activities, and much more.
Program
Sat 3.10.
Lower Foyer
11:00-11:30 Performance: Baroque Dance / La Porte du Temps
11:30-12:30 Interview: “How Does Social Class Affect Opera?” / Marissa Mehr, interviewed by Henna Tanskanen
12:30-13:00 Work Presentation: “La Calisto” / A co-production by the Finnish Baroque Orchestra (FiBO), Finnish National Opera and 00100. Discussion with Thomas de Mallet Burgess (Artistic Director, Finnish National Opera) and Henna Tanskanen
13:00-13:30 Workshop: “The Sounding Body” – Pilates for Singers / Tommi Hyytinen
13:30-14:00 Masterclass Performance: Instrumental Ensembles and Vocal Students of the Sibelius Academy
14:00-15:00 Performance: Improvised Opera / Improa! featuring Mia Heikkinen, Jenni Lättilä and Mikko Helenius
15:00-15:30 Masterclass Performance: Instrumental Ensembles and Vocal Students of the Sibelius Academy
15:30-16:00 Work Presentation: “Sieluttaret” and a discussion on the theme of desire in opera and 17th-century music / The Finnish Baroque Orchestra (FiBO) and SKOB launch a new collaboration. Discussion with Siljamari Heikinheimo and Marianna Henriksson
16:00-17:00 Panel Discussion: Opera in the 21st Century / Matias Häkkinen, Debi Wong (Vancouver), and others
17:00-17:45 Panel Discussion: The Minuet in Folk Dance and Baroque Dance / Petri Hoppu, Maria Hostikka, Heidi Palmu, Marcus Blomberg and Petri Myllynen
18:00-19:00 Dance Workshop: Try Baroque Dance Steps (Minuet) / Petri Myllynen and the Finnish Baroque Orchestra
19:00-20:00 Dance Workshop: Try Folk Dance Steps (Minuet) / Nordic Dance
20:00-21:00 EAR-ly Baroque Ensemble Competition Awards Ceremony
Organo
15:00-16:00 Workshop: Reimagine Your Favourite Opera! / Marissa Mehr (continues as a self-guided activity in the Lower Foyer throughout the evening)
16:30-17:30 Immersive Performance: “La Calisto” / FiBO + SKOB + 00100
Changes possible.
Aria Borealis
The International Baroque Singing Competition Aria Borealis, held for the second time, will take place in Helsinki in October 2026. Tickets to the semifinals and finals are now available!
2nd Nov 18.30 Semifinal I
2nd Nov 20.00 Semifinal II & III
4th Nov 18.00 Final
Tickets to Musiikkitalo concerts and other events are available to purchase on our website, by telephone and at our physical box office.
Book tickets for 10–20 or more people is by contacting group sales service by email at ryhmat@musiikkitalo.fi or by telephone on 0600 411 101 (Monday to Friday, 9:00–15:00).
How about a cup of coffee, a bite to eat or a glass of bubbly during the interval? Order your drinks in advance to beat the queues and make the most of your concert visit. Interval refreshments are not available at all concerts.
Our location could not be more central or easier to get to. Almost all forms of Helsinki public transport stop right outside our doors, cycle parking is provided at all our entrances, and Aimo Park Finlandia, our nearest multi-storey car park, offers lift access directly to our main foyer.
At Helsinki Music Centre we are proud to be an accessible and welcoming place for everyone. Tactile handrails and signage have been fitted across the building, and there are tactile indicator strips on the floor too to guide partially sighted and blind visitors. Induction loops are always available, and guide or companion dogs are of course permitted within the building.
Concert Hall
When purchasing a concert ticket in the Music Centre’s ticket shop, you can view the sightline from your seat in a 360-degree view.
How to use the 360-degree view: Select your preferred seat on the seating map and then choose the ticket type.
On a mobile device, the 360-degree image opens when you tap the chevron at the top edge of the bottom panel. Tapping the image again opens it in full-screen mode, allowing you to rotate the view.
On a computer, you will find the “My Seat” section in the upper-right corner of the ticket shop. Below the heading, a photo of the Concert Hall is displayed. Clicking the image opens the view from the selected seat. You can rotate the image with your mouse to explore the view from the seat in greater detail.
The route to your seat is always printed on your ticket. Check the door number to find out which entrance to take. The seating areas are marked with letters. There is level access to all wheelchair seats from the main entrances. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with our venue – our staff are always on hand to help you find your seat.
Black Box, Camerata and Sonore
Use the row number printed on your ticket to find your seat. Wheelchair seats are situated on the same level as the entrance. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with our venue – our staff area always on hand to help you find your seat.
Unallocated seating
Please choose your seat on the day.
Floor plans
You can view our floor plans before your visit.
Cloakroom
We ask you to leave your coat and any larger items in the cloakroom. The cloakroom is free of charge.
Latecomers
Latecomers will be asked to wait until a suitable break in the performance or admitted after the interval.
Photography
You are not permitted to record concert performances at Helsinki Music Centre. However, you may take photographs before and after the concert and during applause. Individual concert organisers may have their own, more detail guidance regarding recording and photography.
Dress code
We’re happy to say we have no dress code at Helsinki Music Centre, and we positively encourage you to come as you are. However, we would be grateful if you could avoid wearing strong perfume during your visit so that people with asthma and fragrance sensitivity can enjoy our concerts symptom free.
