The next Oulu Music Festival will be held 14–28 March 2021, after which violinist Elina Vähälä and saxophonist Jukka Perko will start as the new artistic directors of the festival. For the first time in its history, the festival moves to a model of two artistic directors. Vähälä and Perko share the responsibility of artistic planning of the festival and in addition Perko will be responsible for planning the year-round Jazz & Etno Concert Series. Jaakko Kuusisto, who is currently the artistic director of the festival, started in 2013.
Born in the US and raised in Finland, Elina Vähälä is one of the brightest stars of Finnish instrumentalists. Vähälä has earned her reputation as a radiant and exceptionally versatile musician through her wide repertoire that includes concertos and chamber music from the baroque era to contemporary music.
Vähälä has given world premieres of Aulis Sallinen's Chamber Concerto, Jaakko Kuusisto’s Concerto, and Kalevi Aho’s Concerto no 2, among others, all of which were written for her. In the latest seasons, Vähälä has been a guest of numerous orchestras across the world such as Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit and Houston Symphony, Orchestre National de Lyon, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Singapore Symphony. She also appears regularly with all of the key Finnish orchestras. Vähälä is one of the founders of the Violin Academy launched in 2009 and also a professor at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna.
"I’m very much looking forward to my future post as the artistic director of Oulu Music Festival together with Jukka Perko. My first appearance in Oulu Music Festival was in 1993, and I have witnessed through the years how the festival has grown to be one of the most high-quality urban festivals in Finland and a vital part of Oulu’s cultural life. I’m very happy that as one of the future artistic directors I can continue Jaakko Kuusisto’s legacy by offering the audience unique experiences together with top international classical musicians", says Vähälä.
Jukka Perko's rapid ascent to international fame began in 1987 when the legendary Dizzy Gillespie recruited the 19-year-old Perko into his big band. Perko's dazzling talent was compared to the young Charlie Parker. Since then, Perko has had a number of bands and performed in over forty countries. Powered by his spectacular playing technique, and by mixing traditional jazz with some distinctly Finnish elements, he has earned his place as one of the most celebrated saxophonists of his entire generation.
Perko is known for numerous succesful bands, of which the most recent ones are Jukka Perko Avara and Jukka Perko Tritone. In addition to his own bands, Perko is a regular guest in many symphony orchestras and big bands. He is also the artistic director of Viapori Jazz Festival and teaches in Sibelius Academy.
"Oulu is one of my favorite cities, and I’ve had the pleasure of playing there numerous times during the years. It’s always been a pleasure to play in front of the wonderful people there. Oulu Music Festival is one of the best organized event anywhere", says Perko. "I’ve learnt and had good ideas by following the program of the festival. It is a great honor to become the artistic director of this wonderful festival together with Elina Vähälä. I believe that together with Elina and the festival crew we can continue to develop the great tradition of the festival and offer memorable concerts also in the future!"
During Jaakko Kuusisto’s time as the festival’s artistic director, the programs of Oulu Music Festival have included, among others, the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, Karita Mattila, Osmo Vänskä and Ismo Alanko as guests of Oulu Symphony Orchestra, dramatized version of Bach’s St. John Passion, and both Finnish and international chamber and jazz concerts, as well as contemporary dance and cirkus. Kuusisto also launched the international classical and rhythm music master classes in co-operation with the local music schools in Oulu.
"The time as the artistic director of Oulu Music Festival has been one of the most interesting and rewarding tasks of my career and I will hand over the post with sadness but also happy about the passed years. It is essential to me that Elina and Jukka are the ones to take over. Both of them are the best you can hope for as musicians, professionals and people. I’m certain that the festival will flourish during their period", says Kuusisto.
The transition of artistic leadership will take place at the 2021 Oulu Music Festival, as Vähälä and Perko will both perform as soloists with the Oulu Symphony Orchestra on 25 March in a concert conducted by Jaakko Kuusisto. The program includes pieces close to both Vähälä and Perko: The Saxophone Concerto Saivo by Outi Tarkiainen premiered in 2017 by Jukka Perko, and Jaakko Kuusisto’s Violin Concerto was commissioned by Elina Vähälä in 2012. The first piece in the concert will be Short Ride In A Fast Machine by John Adams. The concert’s name Jäähyväiset means ”Farewell”.
Concert ticket sales starts on Thursday, 14 May 2020.
JÄÄHYVÄISET
Thursday, 25 March 2021 at 19
Oulu Music Centre, Madetoja Concert Hall
Oulu Symphony Orchestra
Jukka Perko | saxophone
Elina Vähälä | violin
Jaakko Kuusisto | conductor
Program
John Adams: Short Ride In A Fast Machine
Outi Tarkiainen: Saxophone Concerto Saivo
Jaakko Kuusisto: Violin Concerto