Anna Thorvaldsdóttir’s awe-inspiring CATAMORPHOSIS in pristine Finnish premiere performance in Tampere

Chief Conductor Matthew Halls and the Tampere Philharmonic rehearsing Anna Thorvaldsdóttir's CATAMORPHOSIS (2020) at Tampere Hall on Wednesday. © Jari Kallio Resuming their inspired forays into marvelously varied orchestral repertoire, the Tampere Philharmonic and Chief Conductor Matthew Halls went on to deliver yet another sold-out concert on Friday evening. Keeping up with last week’s top-notch...

Poignant Elgar and roaring Stravinsky from Alban Gerhardt, the Tampere Philharmonic and Matthew Halls

Alban Gerhardt and the Tampere Philharmonic, conducted by Matthew Halls in rehearsal for Sir Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto, op. 85 (1919) at Tampere Hall on Wednesday. © Jari Kallio Appearing side by side on Friday evening’s set-list by the Tampere Philharmonic and Chief Conductor Matthew Halls, joined by cellist Alban Gerhardt as soloist, two astounding...

Premieres and contemporary classics with Piia Komsi, Tampere Philharmonic and Olari Elts

Piia Komsi and the Tampere Philharmonic, conducted by Olari Elts, in rehearsal for Unsuk Chin's Puzzles and Games from Alice in Wonderland (2017) at the Tampere Hall on Friday. © Maarit Kytöharju Heard in conjunction with Tampere Biennale on Friday, the evening concert by the Tampere Philharmonic, guest conducted by Olari Elts and featuring soprano...

Flourishes and premieres from Pacho Flores, Tampere Philharmonic and Christian Vásquez

Composer Tuomas Turriago embracing trumpeter Pacho Flores after the world premiere of Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra (2023) with the Tampere Philharmonic, conducted by Christian Vásquez. © Jari Kallio Among all those intriguing trajectories found within the realm of so-called classical music, discovering the vast, living musical traditions of the Americas has its rightful place...

St John Passion clad in ever-contemporary raiment under Matthew Halls

Chief Conductor Matthew Halls directing St John Passion in rehearsal with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir at Tampere Hall. © Jari Kallio Three centuries after its first performance at the St Nicholas Church in Leipzig on Good Friday of 1724, Johann Sebastian Bach’s St John Passion (Passio secundum Joannem), BWV 245 keeps stirring the...

A tale of three orchestras – interview with Matthew Halls

Tampere Philharmonic Chief Conductor Matthew Halls. © Benjamin Ealovega In Tampere, Finland, Chief Conductor Matthew Halls and the Tampere Philharmonic have been enjoying their first season together. Halfway through their joint inaugural endeavor, the conductor is bursting with enthusiasm, as we sit down for a chat in the Tampere Hall foyer.     “We have a...

Magnificent Finnish premiere for Andrew Norman’s Switch from Colin Currie and the Tampere Philharmonic under Matthew Halls

Percussionist Colin Currie and the Tampere Philharmonic, conducted by Matthew Halls, rehearsing Andrew Norman's Switch (2014-15) for its Finnish premiere performance at Tampere Hall. © Jari Kallio Back on the podium with the Tampere Philharmonic, Chief Conductor Matthew Halls guided the orchestra through yet another intriguing program, combining one of the finest new percussion concertos...

Resplendence and virtuosity with Elina Vähälä, Hannu Lintu and the Tampere Philharmonic

Elina Vähälä and the Tampere Philharmonic under Hannu Lintu performing Jaakko Kuusisto's Violin Concerto (2011-12) at the Tampere Hall on Friday. © Jari Kallio Although over ten years have passed since his tenure as the Chief Conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic, Hannu Lintu has kept coming back to the podium at the orchestra’s Tampere Hall...

Sebastian Fagerlund’s orchestral trilogy given in striking staging by Tero Saarinen Company and the Tampere Philharmonic under Hannu Lintu

Stage imagery from Tero Saarinen's Transit, based on the music by Sebastian Fagerlund with sound design by Tuomas Norvio © Kai Kuusisto Unveiled for the first time in its full scope and scale at Tampere Hall on Friday evening, Transit, a striking collaboration between composer Sebastian Fagerlund, choreographer Tero Saarinen and sound designer Tuomas Norvio,...

Solid Holländer from Tampere Opera

The meeting of the Dutchman and Senta. © Petri Nuutinen / Tampere Hall Back on track after series of Covid cancellations over the past couple of years, the Tampere Opera has put together an appealing new production of Richard Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman, 1841/1842-80), directed by Marika Vapaavuori, and featuring the Tampere...