Oulu Sinfonia’s Spring Season 2025 brochure is now out and tickets on sale. A significant change this spring is the earlier start time of concerts, with most beginning at 6:30 pm based on audience feedback.
The season concert series is built around grand symphonies of Western classical music, conducted by maestros from Finland and abroad. The spotlight is on international vocalists, Finnish instrumental soloists, and Finnish premieres.
Chief Conductor Rumon Gamba leads five concerts, featuring works such as Claude Debussy’s La Mer (French Delicacies, Thu 27 Feb), Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Symphony No. 5 (Serenade for Two, Thu 27 Mar), and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite (Two Princesses, Thu 24 Apr). Tchaikovsky also features in Beethoven’s Heirs (Thu 30 Jan), where Daniela Musca conducts his Symphony No. 4. Meanwhile, Italian conductor Daniele Giorgi conducts Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in the concert Rise and Fall (Thu 17 Apr). The season concludes with Classical Wishes (Thu–Fri 22–23 May), a programme created from audience-selected gems spanning composers and styles.
Emerging conductors debut in Oulu, with Elisar Riddelin leading Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 (Calm and Storm, Thu 6 Feb) and Jascha von der Goltz conducting Sergey Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 (Mystique & Melancholy, Thu 3 Apr). Kalle Kuusava introduces Oulu audiences to American Romantic Amy Beach’s main work Gaelic Symphony (Thu 8 May, Barabbas!). The season culminates in The Tapestry of Life, a joint concert with the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra. Conducted by Eugene Tzigane, the grand orchestra performs Richard Strauss’ tone poem Symphonia Domestica, with performances in Oulu (Thu 15 May) and Kuopio (Fri 16 May).
The season opens on Thu 16 Jan with winners of last summer’s international Mirjam Helin Competition. Performing are winner Jingjing Xu, third-place finalist Junho Hwang, and the press jury’s favourite Hedvig Haugerud. The programme features arias by Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, and Vincenzo Bellini, along with overtures from Die Fledermaus and The Marriage of Figaro.
One of today’s most acclaimed tenors, Allan Clayton, makes his Oulu debut on Thu 27 Mar in Serenade for Two. The British tenor, celebrated at London’s Covent Garden and New York’s Metropolitan Opera, performs Benjamin Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, together with Oulu Sinfonia’s principal horn Lauri Vasala.
Madetoja Hall will host Finnish soloists this spring. Pianist Hannu Alasaarela, originally from Oulu, performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in Beethoven’s Heirs (Thu 30 Jan). In French Delicacies (Thu 27 Feb), concertmaster Mikko Sorri premieres Juha Pisto’s Poème for Solo Violin and Orchestra, and also plays Ernest Chausson’s beloved Poème.
Accordion virtuoso Mika Väyrynen returns to Oulu after several years for Barabbas! (Thu 8 May), celebrating Aulis Sallinen’s 90th anniversary with his Barabbas Variations for accordion and orchestra.
Oulu Sinfonia’s new principal cellist, Oliver Erlich, takes the stage on Thu 3 Apr (Mystique & Melancholy), performing Joonas Kokkonen’s celebrated Cello Concerto. Turku Philharmonic Orchestra’s principal oboist Takuya Takashima brings Ruth Gipps’ Oboe Concerto to Finland for the first time on Thu 6 Feb (Calm and Storm). The Two Princesses concert (Thu 24 Apr) also features a Finnish premiere, as saxophonist Jess Gillam performs John Harle’s saxophone concerto Briggflatts.
Oulu Sinfonia’s spring includes time-honoured traditions. The orchestra performs in the XIII Leevi Madetoja Piano Competition Concerto Finals on Fri 24 Jan and takes part in the Oulu Music Festival in March. The Tutti Juttu concerts (Thu–Fri 10–11 Apr) welcome local sixth-graders from Oulu music classes to join the orchestra, culminating a year-long project under Matias Nässi. The festive May Day Matinee with conductor Jukka Myllys continues the tradition of a sparkling May Day concert, showcasing hidden talents.
Renowned Finnish singer Diandra appears as the soloist in the popular Music of Divas concerts (Wed 12 Feb and Thu 13 Feb), conducted by Antti Rissanen.
Oulu Sinfonia Chamber Musicians continue their series of admission-free, intimate chamber concerts this spring. Smaller ensembles will perform at unique venues in Oulu and surrounding municipalities, including the Koivu ja Tähti Cultural Centre in Muhos, University of Oulu Botanical Gardens, and Oulunsalo Church. Pianist Hannu Alasaarela and accordionist Mika Väyrynen will also perform in these chamber concerts.
Text: Oulu Sinfonia
Image: Oliver Erlich, c Kati Leinonen