No summer without music – Avant’s Little Summer Play in Porvoo on 25 June

No summer without music – Avant’s Little Summer Play in Porvoo on 25 June

(in Swedish below)

This year, Avant’s Suvisoitto festival, postponed to 2021, will be replaced by a one-day mini-festival on Thursday 25 June 2020. The day will include several chamber music and solo concerts, culminating in the closing concert FOG at the Art Factory, led by Avant’s founding conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen.

The idea for a music event to take over the city was taken from the first Suvisoito in 1986. During the day, Avant’s soloists and bands perform in cafés in Old Porvoo and in the courtyards, gardens and squares of the suburbs. The programme ranges from baroque to contemporary music, jazz and tango. Configurations range from a solo harp to a wind octet and a Brassa på brass band touring the city. A fanfare echoes from the roof of the Arts Centre just before the evening’s concert.

You can also participate in the concerts via video and radio: the evening concert will be broadcast live from the Porvoo Art Factory on Avant’s YouTube channel and Porvoo Live. The concert will be broadcast live on Yle radio and later on Yle Arena. Recordings of the day’s other concerts will be published after the event on Avant’s YouTube channel, and the day’s atmosphere will also be shared on Avant’s social media channels.

To ensure the safety of the audience and performers, the number of people attending indoor concerts is limited to 1-25, depending on the concert. To be admitted to the concert, you can enter a free prize draw by Monday 15 June. Ticket winners will be notified during the Midsummer week. There will also be a few free seats available at the doors of the concert venues, which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis no earlier than half an hour before the concert starts. Avant’s music can also be heard in cafés, streets and shopping centres throughout the day.

The first half of the concert will feature Aino Tenkanen’s string trio Uneen falloan, Heidi Hassinen’s electrically amplified trio Kato and Veli Kujala’s Accordeon Hyperoriental for microphone accordion and backing tape. Jukka Tiensuu’s nemo, ploughing the musical oceans, closes the first part. The second part begins with the premiere of Juho Kangka’s Secondi e Strumenti for bass clarinet, guitar and double bass. This will be followed by four scenes from Mari Sainio’s monologue opera The Raven, based on Edgar Allan Poe’s classic poem of the same name. The soloist is baritone Henri Tikkanen. The concert will close with the Finnish premiere of Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Fog.

Concerts

Ingen sommar utan musik – Avanti! organises mini-summer music in Borgå on 25 June

The Avantis Summer Music Festival has been postponed until summer 2021, but instead a mini-festival will be organised on Thursday 25 June 2020. Several chamber music and solo concerts will be held on the same day, as well as the closing concert FOG at Konstfabriken. The concert will be conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, one of Avantis’ founders.

The idea of a music festival spreading throughout the city has been around since the very first Summer Music Festival in 1986. Avanti soloists and ensembles can be found at the end of the day in the cafés in Gamla Borgå, in the old town’s gardens and gardens and in the trädgårdar. The repertoire ranges from baroque via all kinds of music to jazz and tango. The ensembles vary from solo harp to brass octet and the brass ensemble Brassa på, which performs in various parts of the city. Strax innan kvällens konzert blir det också en fanfar från Konstfabrikens tak.

You can also participate in the concerts via video and radio spots: the evening concert at Borgå Konstfabrik will be broadcast live via Avantis YouTube channel and Borgå Live. Yle spels in the concert and broadcasts it at a later time on the radio and via Yle Arena. Inspirations from the day’s other concerts will be published after the event on Avantis YouTube channel and the highlights of the day will also be shared on Avantis social media channels.

In order to ensure safe conditions for both the audience and the musicians, the number of audience members at indoor concerts is limited to 1-25 people, depending on the concert. The seats for the concert audience will be allocated by lottery, so please participate in the free ticket allocation by Monday 15.6. We will contact the audience during the summer quarter. There are a few free seats available at the doors to the concert venues, which will be distributed to the public on arrival at least half an hour before the concert begins. During the rest of the day, you can also hear Avanti play in the cafes, on the canal and in the city centre.

The evening concerts at Konstfabriken will feature Aino Tenkanen’s string trio Uneen putoan, Heidi Hassinen’s electronically enhanced trio Kato and Veli Kujala’s work Accordeon Hyperoriental for microtonal accordion and ljudband. The first section will be closed with Jukka Tiensuu’s Nemo, which will show musical worlds. Den andra avdelningen inleds med ett uruppförande: Juho Kanga’s Secondi e Strumenti för basklarinett, gitarr och kontrabas. This is followed by four scenes from Mari Sainio’s monologue opera The Raven, based on Edgar Allan Poe’s classic poem of the same name. The soloist is baritone Henri Tikkanen. The concert will end with Esa-Pekka Salonen’s opera Fog, which is being performed for the first time in Finland.

Conserter

Georg Malmstén & HumppAvanti! – EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT / TA DE´ LUGNT ALLA TIDER

(På svenska nedan)

HumppAvanti! and Svenska Teatern will paint a portrait of Georg Malmstén, the great entertainer of our musical history, with soloists, well-known singers and actors. Writer and director Juha Siltanen and musical director Timo Hietala want to update Malmstén’s production for the 2020s in a spectacular musical firework display on the big stage of the Svenska Teatern. The premiere is on 16 October. The ensemble includes names such as John Storgårds, Sam Huber and Anna Hultin. More top names will be announced later.

Georg Malmstén (1902-1981) is one of the cornerstones of Finnish music history. His compositions have left an indelible mark on Finnish folk music. Svenska Teatern and the chamber orchestra Avanti! will honour the beloved singer, musician and composer with a joyous concert in October.

Malmstén’s songs bring together East and West, city and countryside, sorrow and joy, uniforms and Mickey Mouse. Avant and Svenska Teatern’s performance brings these to the stage of the 2020s, in both national languages, both familiar classics and, above all, lesser-known masterpieces.

– Malmstén was our great “national figure”, but we also want to show him as a professional artist of international stature. He was an opera singer, orchestra conductor, cornetist, composer, arranger, lyricist, actor, even a film director. His work traces the development of half a century and, above all, a warmth of personality which, in our countries, is often overshadowed by sentimentality or beachside mannerisms. , says Juha Siltanen, the director and scriptwriter of the performance, who has worked with Avant on several composer portraits over the years.

HumppAvanti! has gained a cult following in its almost 20 years of operation with its artistically free-spirited approach and irrepressible humour. It has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, from classical musicians to entertainment legends and rap artists.

According to pianist and composer Timo Hietala, the whole idea of HumppAvant started in a playful way:

– We sat with Avant’s artistic director, Kari Kriiku, on the plane, trying to make the time pass. We started toying with the idea of organising a tribute concert in honour of old Finnish band culture, say Humppa-Veike. At the time, the idea seemed crazy, but after sleeping through the night, Kriikku was convinced that it had to happen. , says Hietala.

It was also from the Avant-garde side that the idea to build a performance around Malmstén’s music and personality came. The show features thirteen of the country’s leading musicians, all of whom have gone on to international careers, as well as guest soloists and actors.

Svenska Teatern introduced Georg Malmstén to the stage as early as 1979 in Sven Sid’s successful musical “The Town Dude”. In 201 performances, it held the theatre’s performance record until the HYPE musical. For Joachim Thibblin, director of the Svenska Teatern, the new production is an opportunity both to broaden the theatre’s repertoire profile and to highlight its current resources, talents and skills:

– We increasingly want to collaborate with other institutions and frontline players, both national and international. Svenska Teatern is one of Helsinki’s key cultural players. We want to open up our fine house to a wider audience so that our location , our skilled staff and modern technology will bring joy to more and more people,” says Thibblin.

Avanti! and Svenska Teatern are state-funded institutions. Joachim Thibblin believes that it is natural for two major cultural players to find common synergies.

– I am very happy that Avanti! wanted to partner with us. It’s great to be able to offer our audiences such a unique programme performed by some of the best musicians in the country.

So in October, it’s time again to go on a border-crossing trip with HumppAvant. This is the opportunity so Avanti is looking forward to! and the Svenska Teatern.

Performances on the main stage of the Svenska Teaterna on Friday 16.10.2020 at 19.00 and Saturday 17.10.2020 at 14.00 and 19.00.

Tickets

 

Svenska Teatern and Avanti! present:

Georg Malmstén & HumppAvanti! – EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT / TA DE´ LUGNT ALLA TIDER

Written and directed by Juha Siltanen
Arrangements and musical direction by Timo Hietala

On stage:
Soloists include Sam Huber, Anna Hultin (More top names to be announced later.)
Violin: John Storgårds,
Clarinet: Kari Kriikku och Heikki Nikula
Piano: Seppo Kantonen
Vibraphone: Panu Savolainen
Trumpet: Pasi Pirinen
Trombone: Valtteri Malmivirta
Tuba: Petri Keskitalo
Drums: Sami Kuoppamäki
Percussion: Mongo Aaltonen
Double bass: Timo Ahtinen
Keyboards: Timo Hietala
Electronic period instruments: Juhani Liimatainen

Svenska Teatern

HumppAvanti! and Svenska Teatern will this autumn present a portrait of Georg Malmstén, one of music history’s greatest managers, with the help of soloists, renowned singers and skådespelare. The author and director Juha Siltanen and musical director Timo Hietala want to update Malmstén’s work until 2020 with a powerful musical production on the Svenska Teaterns stora scen with a premiere on 16 October. The ensemble includes names like John Storgårds, Sam Huber and Anna Hultin. Flera toppnamn avslöjas senare.
Georg Malmstén (1902-1981) is one of the leading lights of Finnish music. Hans’ songs and tunes have given outsplånliga spårat i den finländska folksjälen. In October, the Svenska Teatern and the chamber orchestra Avanti! will celebrate this famous singer, musician and composer with a wonderful concert performance.

In Malmsténs sånger öst väst, “stadin” landsbygden och vemodet glädjen möter. In Avantis and Svenska Teaterns productions, both more and less well-known classics in both languages will be performed on the stages of 2020.

– Malmstén was a folk symbol, but we also want to present him as an internationally renowned professional artist. He was an opera singer, conductor, cornetist, composer, arranger, songwriter, skådespelare, and even a film director. In his work we see a half-second of development and, above all, a kind of personal warmth that often lies in the skuggan av sentimentalitet eller vilt leverne , says the director of the festival and manuscript writer Juha Siltanen, who has produced several composer portraits together with Avanti! during the end of the year.

During the almost ten years of its existence, HumppAvanti! has acquired a cult-like status where it has created an open-minded attitude and scrupulous humour with artistic freedom. Gruppen har samarbetat med allt från musiker inom klassisk musik till kända nöjeslegender och rapartister.

Enligt pianist och kompositör Timo Hietala började hela idén med HumppAvanti! som ett skämt.

– Me and Avantis artistic leader Kari Kriikku sat on a flygplan and wanted to let time pass. We started to play with the idea of organising a tribute concert to the old Finnish band culture, e.g. Humppa-Veikots. At the time we thought that the idea was a good one, but after having looked into the matter, Kriikku was convinced that it should be carried out, sailor Hietala.

Det var också Avanti! who came up with the idea to build up a programme about Malmstén’s music and person. The production features three of the country’s most prominent musicians, all of whom have made careers abroad, as well as well-known soloists and skådespelare.

Malmstén, who was Finnish-Swedish, was presented as early as 1979 at Svenska Teatern in Sven Sid’ssuccessful production “Stadin kundi”. It was performed 201 times and set a record for the number of performances until the musical HYPE. Svenska Teaterns teaterchef Joachim Thibblin sees the production as a way of both expanding the theatre’s repertoire and enhancing the company’s existing resources, talents and skills.

– We want to cooperate to an ever greater extent with other institutions and the leading actors, both nationally and internationally. Svenska Teatern is a central cultural actor in Helsinki. We want to open up our great theatre to a wider audience, where our location, our competent staff and modern technology can be appreciated more and more, Sawyer Thibblin.

Avanti!, like Svenska Teatern, also receives public funding. Joachim Thibblin thinks it is only natural that two major cultural actors should work in synergy.

– Jag är väldigt glad att Avanti! wanted to work with us. It’s great to be able to give our audience a unique programme presented by the country’s best musicians.

In October, it is again time to take part in HumppAvanti! and their cross-border cooperation. Something that both Avanti! and Svenska Teaterns are looking forward to.

Performances at Svenska Teaterns Stora scen on Friday 16 October at 19.00 and on Sunday 17 October at 14.00 and 19.00.

Biljetter

 

Svenska Teatern and Avanti! presenterar:

Georg Malmstén & HumppAvanti! – TA DE´ LUGNT ALLA TIDER / EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT

Manus and director: Juha Siltanen
Arrangement and musical direction: Timo Hietala

På scen:
Soloists: Sam Huber, Anna Hultin and many other top names who have been released on the map.
Violin: John Storgårds,
Clarinet: Kari Kriikku och Heikki Nikula
Piano: Seppo Kantonen
Vibraphone: Panu Savolainen
Trumpet: Pasi Pirinen
Trombon: Valtteri Malmivirta
Tuba: Petri Keskitalo
Trummor: Sami Kuoppamäki
Slaginstrument: Mongo Aaltonen
Bas: Timo Ahtinen
Tangentinstrument: Timo Hietala
Elektroniska periodinstrument: Juhani Liimatainen

Svenska Teatern

Avantin 35. Summer Music Festival moves to 2021

(På svenska nedan / In English below)

Chamber Orchestra Avant 35. The Avant Summer Music Festival will be held in Porvoo from 30.6. to 4.7.2021 and will be moved forward by one year, as decided by the Avant Board at its meeting on Monday 27.4.

“This is an unfortunate situation for everyone, and although some of Suvisoito’s events are below the 500-person limit, moving the entire festival was the most responsible course of action in these circumstances, both for the health and safety of the audience and the performers,” says Acting Executive Director Jussi Rauvola.

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Summer Music Festival will not take place in 2020, but music will still be available this exceptional summer. Avanti! will provide more information on the replacement programme and how it will be delivered during May and June. All official regulations and guidelines will also be strictly observed.

The 2021 festival will feature a programme designed by Austrian composer-singer-conductor HK Gruber, including a diverse selection of works by Austrian postmodernists, domestic premieres and other rarely heard contemporary music gems. Gruber himself will appear as a conductor and vocal soloist in addition to his works.

Other soloists and conductors for the 2021 Summer Festival will be announced and tickets will go on sale in autumn 2020.

 

Avantis 35th Summer Music Festival skjuts up until 2021

Kammarorkestern Avantis 35:e Sommarmusik-festival is postponed by one year and will be held in Borgå 30.6. – 4.7.2021, according to Avantis styrelses beslut måndag 27.4.

“The situation is deplorable for all parties, and even if part of the Summer Music Festival exceeds the 500-person limit, it is in these circumstances most responsible to cancel the entire festival, in view of the health and safety of both the audience and the musicians,” says Jussi Rauvola, Director of Operations.

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the Summer Music Festival 2020 will not be held, but despite this, music will still be on the agenda during this exceptional summer. Avanti! meddelar on the summer’s replacement programme and its implementation in May-June. The organisations follow all the directives and guidelines of the authorities.

The 2021 festival will present a programme planned by Estonian singer-songwriter-conductor HK Gruber, a varied programme including works by Austrian post-modernists, indigenous composers and other recent gems in the field of contemporary music. Gruber will be performing at the festival with his own works and as a conductor and soloist.

Other soloist and conductor guests for Sommarmusik 2021 will be published and ticket sales will start in spring 2020.

 

Avanti! postpones 35th Summer Sounds festival to 2021

The 35th Summer Sounds festival of the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra is to be postponed for one year to 2021, when it will be held in Porvoo from June 30 to July 4. The decision was made by the Avanti! Board at its meeting on Monday, April 27.

“It’s a regrettable situation for everyone,” says the orchestra’s Acting Executive Director Jussi Rauvola. “Although some of the Summer Sounds events will not exceed the limit of 500 participants imposed by the Finnish government, postponing the entire festival is, in the present circumstances, the most responsible course of action in order to ensure the health and safety of both audience and performers.”

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, Summer Sounds will not therefore be held in 2020, but there will still be a chance to enjoy music in this exceptional summer. Avanti! will be announcing this summer’s alternative programme and its execution over the next two months. Again, it will be strictly observing all the official orders and directions.

The programme for the 2021 festival will be planned by Austrian composer-singer-conductor HK Gruber, with a varied menu that includes works by Austrian postmodernists, Finnish premieres and other seldom-heard gems of contemporary music. Gruber will be appearing in person at the festival, in the triple role of composer, conductor and vocalist.

The names of the other visiting soloists and conductors for the 2021 Summer Sounds festival will be announced and tickets will go on sale in autumn 2020.

ZENG – Lotta Wennäkoski’s 50th anniversary concert

Avanti! celebrates Lotta Wennäkoski’s 50th birthday with a concert of her chamber orchestra works from over the years. During the programme, Wennäkoski herself will also take to the stage to perform Hungarian folk music.

Sat 8.2.2020 at 19.00
ZENG – Lotta Wennäkoski’s 50th anniversary concert

Ballroom G18 (Yrjönkatu 18, Helsinki)

József Hárs, conductor
Virpi Räisänen, mezzo-soprano
Eero Saunamäki, recorder
Heikki Nikula, bass clarinet
Ville Syrjäläinen, percussion

Chamber Orchestra Avanti!

Lotta Wennäkoski:

I stället för vingar (2014-16)
Hele (2018)
Kuule II (2007)
Zeng (2018-19)

and Hungarian folk songs

 

Tickets:

https://www.lippu.fi/artist/avanti/

Avantin Frankenstein!! Temppeliaukio church 18.10.2018

Frankenstein!!

Thu 18.10.2018 at 19 Temppeliaukio Church

Following its successful Summer Play Festival, Chamber Orchestra Avanti! returns to the Helsinki audience full of the will to perform. The autumn concert presents composer, conductor and singer H.K.Gruber, whose breakthrough work Frankenstein!! (1977-79) is the main work of the concert.

Buy tickets HERE
Tickets 32/27/15 € (+ Lippupiste delivery charges).

Performers:

Avanti! Chamber Orchestra

HK Gruber, conductor and vocal soloist

Programme:

Kurt Weill: Berlin in the light

Hanns Eisler: Ballad of charity

Hanns Eisler: Ballad of the bag-snatchers

Hanns Eisler: Ballad of Nigger Jim

Kurt Weill: Oil music

Louis Andriessen: Workers Union

HK Gruber: Frankenstein!!

Pan-demonium for singer and orchestra to poems by H. C. Artmann:

Fanfare, Prologue.

Dedication / Miss Dracula

Goldfinger and Bond / John Wayne / Monster

Monsterlet

Fanfare, Intermezzo

Frankenstein

Rat Song and Crusoe Song

Superman

Finale: The green-haired man / Batman and Robin / Monster in the Park

 

Austrian-born HK (Heinz Karl) Gruber (b. 1943) laid the foundations for his musical career in the world-famous Wiener Sängerknaben boys’ choir, in whose ranks he sang during his school years. His full-time musical studies followed at the Vienna Musikhochschule, where he studied composition and other subjects.

Gruber started his career as a double bassist with die reihe ensemble and then had a long career with the Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he was a member from 1969 to 1998. Gruber is also a singer-actor and founding member of the MOB-art & tone-ART artist collective.

HK Gruber’s distinctive musical language has brought him considerable international success. His official style is “diatonic serialism”, but his breakthrough work Frankenstein!! (1977-79) has more ingredients than any compositional school that has made it into the history books will allow, which is probably the secret of the hundreds of performances it has received. The work is now being performed in Helsinki for the first time.

In Avant’s autumn season concert, HK Gruber is not only the composer but also the conductor and singer. His own work is a major conductor’s showpiece, requiring a varied and bold vocal and theatrical expression. The orchestra’s arsenal includes toy instruments. In turn, songs by Kurt Weil and Hanns Eisler at the beginning of the programme reveal Gruber’s skills in songwriting.

Louis Andriessen’s Workers Union is, according to its composer, a combination of individual freedom and strict discipline. The rhythm is well defined, but the tonal levels are only indicative. It is demanding to play and march in the same steps, a bit like doing politics: the idea of expression and the execution of expression require different things. Avant’s talents as a collective are put to full use!

The concert is supported by the Pro Musica Foundation.

Artists’ comment on the situation of the Avant Chamber Orchestra

Comment on the situation of the Avant Chamber Orchestra

On 9 March 2018, the Ministry of Education and Culture decided to recover a total of 500 000 euros in unjustified VOS subsidies from the Avant Chamber Orchestra. This decision effectively means the end of the orchestra’s activities.

We, the undersigned, would like to point out that the Ministry could have decided otherwise if it wished. Avanti! has been under the watchful eye of the Ministry of Education and Culture since the VOS system was set up. The orchestra has regularly and transparently submitted an activity report and audited accounts to the Ministry. These documents have apparently not been made available to the Ministry, as for twenty years the orchestra has not received any instructions or suggestions for corrections. Avanti! has itself identified the anomalies that have now arisen and has conscientiously contacted the Ministry.

We are deeply concerned about the way the Ministry of Education and Culture approaches the monitoring of the funding it allocates. Particularly now that the VOS system and its criteria are being reformed, we hope that the government will show particular attention to the implementation of the criteria, both artistically and administratively. We believe that by now recovering old state contributions from Avant, the Ministry is punishing an innocent orchestra for its own negligence.

If the government believes that Finnish music life is best served by the ministry covering up its own negligence by burying its embarrassing mistake and the orchestra that is the subject of the negligence, the decision may be legally valid, but it is a disgrace to the ministry’s actual mission.

We understand that the Ministry – knowing that the orchestra cannot repay the money – is forcing Avant into bankruptcy. The Ministry does not get its money back but the orchestra ceases to exist; everyone loses. The damage to the cultural life of our country is irreparable. The Finnish classical music scene is famous for its openness and open-mindedness. In creating and maintaining this atmosphere, Avanti! has been an essential factor in creating and maintaining this atmosphere.

During its existence, Avanti! has played more than 600 premieres. It regularly collaborates with the country’s leading performers and composers. The orchestra is known for its altruism and idealism. Now, by its official decision, the Ministry is dangerously putting the economy at odds with the spirit that carries our music into the future.

We hope the Ministry of Education and Culture will reverse its decision. After all, it is a question of whether form matters more than substance.

Berlin – Helsinki – Lahti – Los Angeles – Rovaniemi – Paris – Sydney – Stockholm – Tokyo – Vienna, 13 March 2018

Anssi Karttunen

Pekka Kuusisto

Magnus Lindberg

Hannu Lintu

Susanna Mälkki

Sakari Oramo

Kaija Saariaho

Esa-Pekka Salonen

Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Dima Slobodeniouk

John Storgårds

Lotta Wennäkoski

OKM recovers €500 000 in state funding from Avant

On 9 March 2018, the Ministry of Education and Culture decided to recover from Avant a total of EUR 500 000 in unjustified overpayments of state funding.

Chamber Orchestra Avanti! has been using the VOS reporting model since 1998, which, according to the recovery decision, does not meet the requirements of the current VOS legislation. The reporting model used by Avanti had overstated the number of man-years calculated.

Avant’s Board decided on its reporting method in 1998 after discussions with the Ministry of Education and Culture. The orchestra has followed the same reporting policy ever since. The rationale for this different reporting method from that used by other operators is that the State contribution model is not suitable as such for an operator such as Avant, which employs a large number of freelance musicians on an irregular basis but has to maintain a relatively large permanent staff of design and production personnel.

In early 2017, Avanti! developed its own financial management and reporting system. As a result of this development work, the association sought advice from the Ministry and it became clear that Avanti’s reporting does not meet the requirements of the current VOS legislation. This information was new and came as a surprise to Avant, and led to almost a year of research, which the Ministry has carried out in good cooperation with Avant.

Avant’s understanding remains that there was agreement with the Ministry on the system applied in 1998. In its recovery decision, the Ministry states that ‘it is possible, however, that the views expressed by the Ministry may have contributed to the development of the incorrect practice at the time‘. The Ministry also states in its decision that ‘. in this case there is no reason to doubt Avanti! association acted fraudulently and deliberately misreported personal expenses. The fact that the conduct came to light in the Avanti! ry’s own contacts “.

Avanti! feels that nothing has been brought to its attention that would give cause to revise the practice in force since 1998. In the context of the legislative change, Avanti! amended its rules in accordance with the guidelines. The written instructions on the collection of cost data in 2007 concerned, in Avanti’s view, the collection and reporting of data, not the principle that had guided Avanti’s reporting since 1998.

Avanti! feels that it has acted in accordance with the law and reported its financial figures as agreed. The Avanti Board of Directors decided on the reporting model to be followed in 1998 after very careful analysis.

The Ministry’s decision to recover the money is based almost exclusively on the law on the financing of education and culture, not on cultural policy considerations. The Ministry must order the recovery of the overpayment. But the law also states that if the amount of the benefit to be recovered is insignificant or if the recovery of the benefit or interest is considered excessive, the benefit may not be ordered to be recovered.

Avanti! considers that the recovery is unreasonable. The Ministry is reducing the amount to be recovered to EUR 500 000, but does not consider the partial recovery to be unreasonable, even though the decision poses an extremely serious threat to the continuity of Avanti’s activities.

All these years, the Ministry has had access to Avant’s annual reports and accounts. Avant’s auditor has provided Avant with a clean audit report for all the years of the association’s existence.

Avanti! has been a VOS-supported orchestra since the beginning of the legislation, and the state grant has been the basis of Avanti’s economic activity, enabling the orchestra to employ hundreds of top professionals in the field of art music every year. Avanti! has been a pioneer of new programming in our country, because the artistic starting point has been the repertoire, not the composition. Avanti has developed into an institution whose importance in Finnish musical and cultural life cannot be overstated. It has two main pillars: the orchestral activities and the annual Suvisoitto event, now in its 32nd year, organised in collaboration with the City of Porvoo.

Criteria set by law for receiving state aid Avanti! has been fulfilled throughout its operation. Avanti! has received a grant from the State for its orchestra and concert activities and for the Summer Play. The results speak for themselves.

Avanti! is one of the most prolific premiers of Finnish music in the last thirty-five years. Avanti! has given nearly six hundred premieres in its lifetime. It has literally been instrumental in the breakthrough to international consciousness of many composers, including Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jouni Kaipainen and Kimmo Hakola. Through its composition courses and workshops, Avanti! has also trained the next generation of composers and premiered their works.

A significant number of internationally successful conductors have left Avant’s ranks: the founders Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jukka-Pekka Saraste have been followed by Sakari Oramo, John Storgårds, Susanna Mälkki, Hannu Lintu, Tuomas Hannikainen, Tomas Djupsjöbacka, Dima Slobodeniuk and Klaus Mäkelä. The orchestra has also trained new musicians to join its ranks. On their international tours, Avanti! has been an important ambassador for Finnish new music.

Further information:

Arne Wessberg, Avanti! Chairman of the Association
p. 0400618800
arne.wessberg(at)elisanet.fi

Avanti! at the NJORD Festival 27.-28.1.2018 (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Sat 27.1.2018 at 19:30
Royal Danish Academy of Music

Reflections // Spejlinger

Chamber Orchestra Avanti!
Clément Mao Takacs, conductor
Jakob Kullberg, cello
Caroline Wettegreen, soprano

Programme:

Anna Thorvaldsdottir: HRIM (2009/2010)

Kaija Saariaho: Amers (1992)

Hans Abrahamsen: To Inger Christensen sange (2017)

György Ligeti: Chamber Concerto (1969-70)


Sun 28.1.2018 at 15:00
Royal Danish Academy of Music

Music of Tomorrow // Morgendagens musik

Chamber Orchestra Avanti!
Clément Mao Takacs, conductor

Programme:

Xavier Bonfill: All over the place

Matias Vestergård: …As veins through his darkness…

Fintan O’Hare: Afloat and Aground

Niklas Ottander: Affirming Denying

 

Further information: http://njordbiennale.com/2018

Avanti! at the Cable Factory Night of the Arts 24.8.2017

Thu August 24th at 8.30 pm
Avanti’s rehearsal hall, Cable Factory, door “V”

Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano
Jukka Rautasalo, gambas
Matias Häkkinen, harpsichord
Maria Hostikka, baroque dance

Duration approx. 30-40 mins

Free entrance!

Avanti! Cable Night of the Arts 24.8.2017

Thu 24.8.2017 at 20.30
Avant’s training room, Cable Factory, V-backpack

Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano
Jukka Rautasalo, gambas
Matias Häkkinen, harpsichord
Maria Hostikka, baroque dance

Avanti! arrives at the Night of the Arts, bringing with it a fresh breeze of secular baroque music and dance.

Baroque music was much more than Bach in churches. In the taverns and in the streets, music was sung and danced to, and it was not meant to praise God. The joys of carnal love, words of warning to maidens, advice to young men – these were the songs of the people. Nor were these themes lost in the chambers of the bourgeoisie or the salons of the aristocracy.

Soprano Tuuli Lindeberg, baroque dancer Maria Hostikka and Avant’s musicians will provide the harpsichords.

Duration of the show approx. 30-40 min

Free admission!