December’s concert highlights include Johann Sebastian Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the beloved animated classic The Snowman. Independence Week celebrates 50 years of Oulu’s comprehensive school system.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Oulu’s transition to the municipal comprehensive school system, being one of the first cities in Finland to adopt it. On Wednesday, 4 December, fifth-grade students from Oulu’s schools will attend a special Independence Day concert at the Madetoja Hall. The event is organised in collaboration with Oulu Sinfonia, the City of Oulu, and the Oulu Class Teachers’ Association.
On Thursday, 5 December, the Finlandia Concert at 7:00 pm closes the autumn season with a programme of Finnish music conducted by Eero Lehtimäki. The evening features Outi Tarkiainen’s celebratory fanfare Joye (2017), Jean Sibelius’ iconic Finlandia, and Einojuhani Rautavaara’s Symphony No. 7 (Angel of Light), widely regarded as one of his most significant works. Tami Pohjola performs as the soloist in Sibelius’ Violin Concerto.
Independence Day is celebrated on Friday, 6 December, with the traditional Independence Day Citizens’ Celebration, which includes Oulu Sinfonia’s return to the festivities after several years. Doors at the Oulu Music Centre open at 11:45 am, with celebratory coffee served from noon. The main event starts at 1:00 pm in the Madetoja Hall.
Oulu Sinfonia’s December superweek begins with screenings of The Snowman concert on Tuesday, 10 December. Based on the beloved story by Raymond Briggs, this half-hour animated film has been a staple of Christmas Eve television since the 1980s. It tells the magical tale of a boy and his snowman embarking on a memorable journey above the rooftops of the city. The emotional Walking in the Air, composed by Howard Blake, is performed by the Madetoja Music High School’s Girls’ Choir and Oulu Sinfonia conducted by Teemu Takanen. Showings are at 10:00 am, 11:30 am, and 6:00 pm. Tickets for the evening performance are sold out, but Ticketmaster’s resale feature offers the possibility to sell or buy returned tickets.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Baroque masterpiece, the Christmas Oratorio, will be performed across three concerts, featuring the first three cantatas. The soloists are soprano Kaisa Ranta, mezzo-soprano Virpi Räisänen, tenor Tuomas Katajala (with Péter Marosvári in Raahe), and bass Janne Sihvo. The concerts, conducted by Lauri-Kalle Kallunki, also feature the Oulu Cathedral Oratorio Choir. Performances are at Raahe’s Holy Trinity Church on Thursday, 12 December, at 7:00 pm, and at Oulu Cathedral on Friday, 13 December, at 7:00 pm and Saturday, 14 December, at 4:00 pm.
Oulu Sinfonia’s chamber musicians will continue their series of free concerts in December. The Notes of Peace concerts take place on Sunday, 1 December, at Oulunsalo Youth Association House at 3:00 pm and on Sunday, 15 December, at Tyrnävä Mill Library at 6:00 pm. These events are open to the public.