Estimated duration

2 h, incl. intermission

Organizer

Helsingin tapahtumasäätiö sr

In Northern Irish composer Conor Mitchell’s massive Riot Symphony (2024), punk, rock, symphony, opera, and politics collide.

Created for the Mitchell-led Belfast Ensemble and the Ulster Orchestra, this grand work combining music and video art celebrates the history of resistance—from Sophie Scholl, the young woman who defied the Nazis, to the Russian activist group Pussy Riot. The piece explores the mechanics of violence, the power of the masses, and the significance of silence amidst conflict. Mitchell’s visual symphony is an experience that grows into something physical, serving as a poignant reminder of humanism.

The evening opens with Richard Strauss’s Metamorphosen (1945). Known for his lush tonal colors, the composer channeled the profound grief caused by the war into a work where the orchestra crystallizes into strings alone. It also became a swan song for the German symphonic tradition.

The Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera continues its unique concert series at the Music Centre, which began in autumn 2024. Founded in 1963, the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera is Finland’s largest orchestra in terms of its ensemble size. In addition to its primary work with opera and ballet performances, the orchestra regularly performs its own concerts. The soloists for this Helsinki Festival concert are Aurora Marthens, known for her crystal-clear soprano, and tenor Ric Furman, who has captivated audiences with his Wagner interpretations.

Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera
Andrew Gourlay, conductor

Aurora Marthens, soprano
Ric Furman, tenor

Program:
Richard Strauss: Metamorphosen
Conor Mitchell: Riot Symphony

helsinkifestival.fi