The Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev is scheduled to perform at the XXVI International Mikkeli Music Festival (Finland) from July 6 to July 9. Valery Gergiev is the festival’s artistic director. This year the festival’s programme is dedicated to three composers – Jean Sibelius, Rodion Shchedrin, and Igor Stravinsky. Igor Stravinsky’s composition for orchestra Funeral Song is to be performed in Finland for the first time at the festival.
The first evening will see the Mariinsky Orchestra under the direction of Valery Gergiev perform Jean Sibelius’ symphonic poem Finlandia, Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 and Piano Concerto No. 1 featuring a solo from Philipp Kopachevsky at the Martti Talvela Hall.
On July 7, the Mikkeli Cathedral, with a capacity of 1200 seats, will see the performance of Rodion Shchedrin’s Tanya-Katya romance in the folk style for female singer and orchestra, Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, and Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The soloists: Pelageya Kurennaya (soprano) and Olga Volkova (violin).
On July 8, the concert at the Martti Talvela Hall will be dedicated to the memory of Seppo Heikinheimo, a Finnish musicologist, writer, and music journalist. The programme includes Johann Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Jean Sibelius’ Valse triste, The Firebird ballet music, and the Finnish premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s Funeral Song. The soloist – Alexei Lubimov (piano).
The Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev is to present its programme dedicated to Jean Sibelius and Rodion Shchedrin at the closing concert of the festival on July 9. Denis Matsuev is set to take part in the performance of Rodion Shchedrin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, while the Mariinsky Orchestra soloists Yuri Afonkin (viola) and Sofia Kiprskaya (harp) will perform the solo parts in Rodion Shchedrin’s Concerto Dolce for viola, string orchestra, and harp. The programme also includes Jean Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen Suite (Four Legends from the Kalevala).
The festival’s chamber programme features lectures and chamber concerts. On July 5, the Mariinsky Theatre Grand Brass Ensemble is to perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Gran Partita Serenade No. 10 for winds at the Hirvensalmi Church. The performance will be conducted by Ivan Stolbov. The musicians of the Mariinsky Orchestra are to perform at the Mikkeli Chamber Hall the next day, namely Olga Volkova (violin), Anton Kozmin (violin), Sofia Kiprskaya (harp), Yuri Afonkin (viola), Vladimir Yunovich (cello), Demian Gorodnichin (double bass), Nikolai Mokhov (flute), and Ivan Stolbov (clarinet). The same venue will host a lecture by Eero Tarasti, professor at the University of Helsinki. The festival’s lecture programme also include a workshop dedicated to the works of Seppo Heikinheimo (July 8, 12:00, Mikkeli City Library). All the lectures are free of charge.
Apart from the main programme at the concert halls, this year the festival is going to broaden its horizons. Public concerts featuring performances by Finnish musician Iiro Rantala will take place at several shopping malls of Mikkeli, while Martti Rousi and the Sibelius Academy Cello Ensemble are set to perform at the South Savo Vocational College Esedu.
The festival’s chamber programme will conclude with a solo concert of Pelageya Kurennaya (soprano). The piano part will be performed by Martina Viitasalo.
The festival also includes a sporting event, which has become the festival’s tradition – a football game between the teams of Mikkeli and the Mariinsky Theatre is scheduled for July 7 at 12:00 at the Urheilupuisto Stadium which holds 4000 people. Entry to the football game is free of charge.
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