WUBBELS writes for instruments with extraordinary skill. Even in heterogeneous ensembles, he discovers sonic qualities that allow the instruments to blend seamlessly. His works are crafted with remarkable formal imagination and structural elegance. Wubbels emerges as a composer whose strengths seem to extend across every aspect of his craft, and among his many virtues is the striking diversity of his output: no two works are quite alike.

It is a privilege to welcome Eric Wubbels to Porvoo. In the Sommarmusik programme, Wubbels’ music is reflected alongside works by Arnold Schoenberg, Ruth Crawford, Bernhard Lang and Tiina Myllärinen.

The festival’s side theme, schubert retouché, explores music connected to the works of Franz Schubert. Following this thread, audiences can encounter Bernhard Lang’s reimagining of the legendary Winterreise, The Cold Trip, performed by soprano Johanna Zimmer and the Kekkonen Quartet; last year’s Teosto Prize winner Mioko Yokoyama’s Metamorphosis of Moments Musicaux No. 3; and Wubbels’ gretchen am spinnrade, performed by cellist Mariel Roberts and the composer himself.