Classical Music of Finland

During the 18^th century, the public shows were created in Turku and Erik Tulindberg wrote six very popular cord quartets, after Russia’s 1809 annexation of Finland, the cities of Viipuri and Helsinki became the cultural centers and opera became very famous. The first Finnish opera was written by the German composer Fredrik Pacius in the year 1852, Pacius who also wrote the Maamme/Vart land (our land), Finland’s national anthem and the initiator Akademiska Sangforeningen in year 1838, the oldest still active choir in Finland.

source of picture: www.discoveringfinland.com

In the year 1874, the society for culture and education (Kansanvalistusseura0 was initiated in order to provide opportunities for artistic expression, starting with the Jyvaskyla festival in the year 1881. The festival, organized on Estonian roots, still exists till today, in the year 1883, the Helsinki University Chorus (Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat) was initiated as one of the few Finnish language choirs in the mostly Swedish-speaking scene. The same year conductor Robert kajanus initiated what is called the Helsinki Philharmonic orchestra and Martin Wegelius invented what is now known as the Sibelius Academy.

During the year 1890s the Finnish nationalism based on the Kalevala spread, and Jean Sibelius became popular for his vocal symphony Kullervo. He soon received a grant to study poetry singer in Karelia and continued his rise as the first Finnish musician. In the year 1899 he produces Finalandia, which played its significant role in Finland gaining independence, he remains one of the Finland’s most famous national records and is a symbol of the nation.

Also Sibelius, the national romanticism developed a number of singers who all contributed on the creation of a different Finnish pattern of music. Hein Kaski was a singer of small chamber music pieces, Erkki Melartin’s vast output that include the six symphonies, Yrjo Kilpinene composer, a vast number of solo, as well as Leevi Madetoja, Toivo Kuula. The year 1930 saw singers such as Uuno Klami and Yrjo Kilinen rise to fame. Kilpene’s approach was somewhat nationalistic, whereas Klami had Karelian influences while also learning towards French models.

Finland had a very dynamic classical music scene, the singers are followed by a large number of great conductors like Esa-Pekka salonene (also a notable composer), Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Mikko Franck, Leif Segerstam, Susanna Malkki and Sarari Oramo OBE.

Several Finnish composers and instrumentalists have also gained international success, among them are the opera singer Martti Talvela, Matti Salminen, Karita mattila, Solie Isokoski and Topi lehtipuu, the pianists Ralf Gothoni, Olli Mustonen and Paavali Jumppanen, as well as the clarinetist Kari Krikku and the violinist Pekka Kuusisto. Practically, all the prominent Finnish musicians’ artist performs both classical and the current art music, the old and the new music are not separated from each other.

The opening of the new Finnish National Opera in the year 1933 and the new Helsingin Musiikkitalo in the year 2011 strengthened the position of the classical and art music in the national infrastructure, the group network in Finland might be equivalently the thickest in the world, with the 30 member groups of the Association of Finnish symphony Orchestras.