Estimated duration
2 h, incl. intermission
Organizer
Kokonainen Ry
Canth, Sibelius, Schjerfbeck – three women's lives, three piano quintets. Cecilia Damström's powerful trilogy now live for the first time at Musiikkitalo!
Cecilia Damström’s trilogy Woman’s Destiny is a powerful series of three piano quintets inspired by the lives of Minna Canth, Aino Sibelius, and Helene Schjerfbeck. Composed between 2017 and 2020, the trilogy sheds light on the inner worlds of three influential women in Finnish cultural history, each offering a unique expression of womanhood.
Minna portrays the passionate work, challenges of motherhood, and uncompromising societal engagement of a trailblazer of Finnish feminism.
Aino dives into the complex emotional world of the composer’s wife — her quiet endurance, inner contradictions, and a deep love that also carried her husband’s art.
Helene reveals the fragile strength, solitude, artistic integrity, and lifelong self-examination of visual artist Helene Schjerfbeck.
Together, these three works form an intimate, powerful, and deeply emotional musical statement on the role of women — then and now. In Damström’s music, historical female figures are not reduced to symbols or supporting roles, but rise as vivid and multifaceted musical characters. With themes of willpower, love, sacrifice, and silence, the trilogy is a poignant and affecting experience now presented for the first time in full concert form at the Helsinki Music Centre.
Nine of Finland’s leading musicians, all deeply familiar with Damström’s music, perform in this concert:
Anna Husgafvel, violin
Tiina Karakorpi, piano
Helmi Malmgren, clarinet
Yasuko Matsuzaki-Svala, bassoon
Pinja Nuñes, cello
Livia Schweizer, flute
Linda Suolahti, violin
Mari Viluksela, viola
Ella York, oboe
The concert precedes the ensemble’s upcoming studio recording of the trilogy.
⸻
Programme:
Minna – Pictures from the Life of Minna Canth (2017), Op. 53
I. Beginning (Alku)
II. Pause (Pysähdys)
III. Volition (Tahto)
IV. Memory (Muisto)
Aino – Emotions from the Life of Aino Sibelius (2018), Op. 60
I. Love (Rakkaus)
II. Steam (Höyry)
III. Longing (Kaipaus)
IV. Iron (Rautaa)
Helene – Nuances from the Life of Helene Schjerfbeck (2020), Op. 74
I. Dancing Shoes (Tanssikengät)
II. Drying Laundry (Vaatteita kuivumassa)
III. Self-Portraits (Omakuva)
IV. The Convalescent (Toipilas)
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
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.
