Estimated duration
2 h, incl. intermission
Organizer
Helsingin kaupunginorkesteri
“The Four Seasons mostly consists of a good collection of folk tunes. And that's a compliment coming from me!” says Swedish folk musician Ale Carr.
Pekka Kuusisto, conductor
Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano
Ale Carr, cittern
Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Catamorphosis
Mikael Karlsson: So We Will Vanish (first performance in Finland)
Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Pekka Kuusisto has invited Swedish folk musician Ale Carr to accompany him in a performance of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Carr plays the cittern, a variant of the lute. Pekka and Ale intertwine Italy’s oppressive midsummer heat, winter storms and spring birdsong with Nordic folk music.
Mikael Karlsson’s song cycle So We Will Vanish is written and dedicated to mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter. “It’s actually quite brilliant song cycle – think Björk with more resilient singing and more luxurious orchestration.” This is how composer Karlsson describes his work, which von Otter performs on concert stages around the world.
Season tickets on sale 28 October – 24 November, single tickets go on sale 2 December.
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.
