The program and performers for the Sounds of Luosto festival in the fells of Lapland in July and August have been published. The main concert at Ukko-Luosto features the Oulu Sinfonia under conductor Aku Sorensen.
The four-day classical music festival will be held 31st July – 3rd August in Luosto, Pyhätunturi and Sodankylä. The theme of the year is Light.
The main concert on Saturday 2 August will feature a full symphony orchestra, the Oulu Sinfonia, for the first time in the five-year history of the festival. Finland’s northernmost symphony orchestra is renowned for its diverse repertoire and has made numerous recordings.
The main concert will open with Antonín Dvořák‘s “In Nature’s Realm”. This will be followed by Franz Liszt‘s Prometheus (Symphonic Poem Number 5), which is based on the ancient Greek myth. The concert will conclude with Carl Nielsen‘s Symphony Number 4 “The Inextinguishable”, an orchestral tribute to life, passion, and relentless perseverance, which gives this concert its name.
Before the festival starts on Wednesday July 30th, the musicians will bring pop-up music performances throughout the region, encountering locals and tourists alike in their everyday lives.
The program will once again feature a diverse range of chamber music, ranging from the Renaissance to the present day, the familiar to the unfamiliar. There will be songs by Clara Schumann and Ottorino Resphigi, piano trios by Johannes Brahms and Lili Boulanger, and even one of the most recognizable themes in the world, contained within Samuel Barber’s String Quartet.
– It has been very inspiring to explore the theme of light in music. Light is hope, civilization and life, but the lack of it can be just as beautiful. In nine concerts, you can experience great music played by top musicians, which will take you on a journey of big emotions,” says Aku Sorensen, Artistic Director of the festival.
On Friday 1.8. in Sodankylä’s three century years old wooden church, you will have the opportunity to hear the historic and precious La Perla guitar. In guitarist Rody van Gemert‘s concert, each piece is associated with his unique instrument.
The instrument is one of around 300 made by the 19th century Spanish guitar maker Antonio de Torres. These instruments are the “Stradivaris of guitars”, sought-after and valuable. However, many of them have disappeared without a trace, and only a handful are still in playing condition. One of these guitars has been restored and brought to Finland. It is named La Perla, or the Pearl.
The various chamber ensembles feature interesting top-level musicians of the younger generation, who have made significant careers in Finland and internationally.
The Luosto soi! festival is not only a musical experience, but also an opportunity to enjoy nature and the concert venues shaped by nature. In addition to the Ukko-Luosto slope, one of the concerts will take place on the Porttikoski stage on the Kitinen riverbank. The stage represents the artful wooden construction tradition of the 1960s.
The Luosto Soi! festival is organised by the Kuusikko soi ry, founded in 2019. Tickets can be purchased in advance from Ticketmaster’s online shop.
Photo Kati Leinonen