The finalists in the International Uuno Klami Composition Competition, one of the world’s most popular composition competitions and now being held for the fourth time, have arrived in Southeast Finland for the climax of the competition: Christopher Culpo (France), Pertti Jalava (Finland), Andrea Portera (Italy), Tomi Räisänen (Finland) and Roberto Sansuini (Italy). The Kymi Sinfonietta conducted by Olari Elts will premiere their works at finals concerts at the Kuusankoski Hall (Kouvola) at 7 pm on Thursday November 14 and at the Kotka Concert Hall at 7 pm on Friday November 15. The results will be announced after the concert in Kotka. The Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) will broadcast the Kotka concert live on its Radio channel 1.
Finalists and Jury also present at the orchestral rehearsals
The finalists will also be present at the orchestral rehearsals in Kotka and Kouvola, where they will have a chance to go through the finer details of their works with the soloists and orchestra. The four soloists at the finals concerts are all top artists: Italian soprano Valentina Coladonato, Russian-born violist Oleg Larionov, Finnish pianist Risto-Matti Marin and Estonian percussionist Heigo Rosin.
Also closely attending the finals rehearsals will be Jury members Kalevi Aho, Magnus Lindberg, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Olari Elts. The Klami competition is unique in that the Jury hears the short-listed works at two concerts and their rehearsals before selecting the winner. Its final decision is thus influenced by the overall impression created by the live performances; this is extremely rare in a composition competition. The Jury has therefore been hard at work long before the finals, having studied no fewer than 283 entries from 38 countries.
Fascinating menu of new music – five orchestral works, all different
The five works selected for the finals offer a fascinating menu of new music and styles. Mundus Imaginalis by Christopher Culpo is based on dialogue between piano and strings, reflections and shadows; the Viola Concerto by Pertti Jalava is a narrative mood piece at times brisk, at others dreamy and lingering. Klecksophonic Lieder by Andrea Portera describes symbols of and journeys towards the unconscious in a story told by a soprano soloist. Tomi Räisänen’s Marimba Concerto Portal bears echoes of popular music and references including Alice in Wonderland, the film Matrix and Harry Potter, while each of the movements in Four Tales by Roberto Sansuini expresses a different character and mood.
Members of the audience will have a chance to meet the competition finalists before the concerts at the Kuusankoski Hall (Hirvelä room, upper floor) at 5.30 pm on Thursday November 14 and at the Vausti Restaurant at the Kotka Concert Hall at 5.30 pm on Friday November 15. The finalists will be interviewed by Jussi-Pekka Rantanen, a Yle newscaster familiar to many in Finland and also the presenter at both finals concerts.
FURTHER INFO:
International Uuno Klami Composition Competition Patrons’ Association,
Executive Director Reetaliina Marin, tel. +358 50 324 0058,
reetaliina.marin@kymisinfonietta.fi, www.klamicompetition.fi