![](https://musiikkitalo.fi/media/nikita-by-veera-penninkangas-1024x683-1.jpg)
Estimated duration
1 h 15 min.
Organizer
Helsingin Musiikkitalo Oy
Keyboardist Nikita Rafaelov performs material from his upcoming solo album.
”Heart Does What Heart Wants” is keyboardist/producer Nikita Rafaelov’s latest solo project, on which he deals with themes from his own life; relationships, the pain of loss and letting go, and the power of creation. The album will be out on Eclipse Music in late September.
Musically and sonically, the project is built by combining acoustic and electronic instruments, using samples, field recordings, various synthesizers and drum machines. Drawing influences from the aesthetics of jazz, hip-hop, new age and ambient, Rafaelov’s album ventures somewhere in the worlds of jazz, alt pop, lo-fin and hi-fin, surrealism and realism, as well as maximalism and minimalism.
Each song is its own little story, like a painting that Rafaelov paints on canvas together with top musicians who guest on the album. The album features many musician friends who are important and inspiring to Rafaelov, and togehter they bring the compositions to life with their own unique interpretation. Guest artists are: Teppo ”Teddy Rok” Mäkynen, Tapani Rinne, Paleface, Spirit Eagle, Adele Sauros, Silva Kallionpää, Joonas Tuuri, Jonas Due (DK) and Oilly Wallace (DK).
Rafaelov builds his solo performance around an acoustic piano, synthesizers and a sampler. The concert will feature material from the upcoming album, but also spontaneous unreleased songs and improvisations.
Nikita Rafaelov, piano, synthetisizers, sampler
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Free concerts are held at Musiikkitalo’s terrace on summer afternoons from Wednesday to Saturday, May 29th to Aug 3rd.
The concerts feature talented musicians from the Sibelius Academy of the University of Arts Helsinki, as well as concerts presented by HelsinkiMissio, Organ Night & Aria and World Music Centre. The genres and music vary daily: mostly classical or folk music on Wednesdays, jazz on Fridays and pop on Saturdays.
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.
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
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.