Avantin 39. The 2024 Summer Music Festival will take place in Porvoo from 27-30 June 2024, with composer and conductor Ondřej Adámek as artistic director.
Czech composer Adámek (b.1979) is known as a composer especially for his search for new techniques for classical instruments, which allows him to create the tone and form that is so important to his compositions. His strong interest in different musical cultures of the world can be heard in his orchestral, chamber, vocal and electro-acoustic works, which he has composed for several prestigious ensembles, orchestras and contemporary music festivals in Europe. Adámek’s compositions are also accompanied by the creation of new instruments, the most famous example being the Airmachine, a kind of air machine or musical instrument created with Carol Jimenez.
Adámek’s repertoire, designed by Adámek, includes a rich selection of his own works, conducted by the composer himself. The works give a broad overview of his work over the years – and the festival will also screen short films he has made.
The main concert programme for the Summer Music Festival is now published! The concert will again take place in Porvoo Art Factory’s Avanti Hall and Tehdassali, as well as in Porvoo Cathedral. The opening fanfare of Suvisoito will take place as usual at the Town Hall Square, kicking off the festival on Thursday 27 June at 12 noon.
The orchestra of the summer concert is the Chamber Orchestra Avanti! with Tami Pohjola, among others, as soloist. One of the most promising violinists of his generation, Tami Pohjola’s humble approach to music has delighted classical music audiences, and he has performed as a soloist with numerous Finnish orchestras. In the closing concert of the Summer Concert on 30 June at 18:00, he will be heard as soloist in Ondřej Adámek’s orchestral work Follow me. Adámek himself will conduct the concert. The concert will also feature a commissioned work by Avant from composer Pilar Miralles and will culminate in Antonin Dvořák’s Czech suite.
In January 2024, the stage of the Svenska Teatern was filled with the hot atmosphere of Argentine tango when the Avant and Svenska Teatern’s traditional Loppiaiskonzert took the stage with the Avant String Orchestra together with Maria Ylipää, Marzi Nyman, Niko Kumpuvaara and Ville Herrala. Ylipää & friends feat. Avanti!: Piazzolla wowed the audience and the applause was never-ending, and now this highly popular concert will be repeated on the Saturday evening of 29 June at 18:00 in the Avanti Hall of the Art Factory. The concert will feature Piazzolla’ s most beloved classics with arrangements for Avant.
The Avanti! quartet is one of Avant’s core ensembles. The quartet’s repertoire includes both quartet classics and rarities from the twilight of history, as well as exciting new contemporary works. The Avanti! quartet is known for its bold and open-minded approach to music and its captivating performance style. The Avanti! quartet’s concert at Porvoo Cathedral on Friday 28 June at 18:00 will include a commissioned piece by Avant from composer Tara Valkonen.
The opening concert of the Summer Music Festival on Thursday 27 June at 18:00 at the Porvoo Art Factory will feature a wide range of music by Ondřej Adámek. The concert will include Let Me Tell You a Story for soprano and orchestra, Whence Comes the Voice? for two singers and the playful Karakuri. Adámek himself will conduct the concert.
In the traditional Avanti! club, short films meet music. The audience will be able to discover the instruments created by Adámek in the form of short films and enjoy music performed by Avantti’s musicians. The Avanti! club will transform the Factory Hall of the Art Factory into an atmospheric club on Friday 28 June at 20.30.
An international masterclass for composers will again be held in conjunction with the Summer Music Festival. The final concert on Sunday 30 June at 13:00 will feature new works for Avant’s wind and string quintets by the composers who took part in the masterclass. The course will be taught by composers Jukka Tiensuu and Tomi Räisänen.
The full programme of the Summer Concert is available at www.avantimusic.fi.
Tickets for the Summer Concert are now on sale! Tickets are sold by lippu.fi.
