Oulu Music Festival will be celebrated for the 34th time from March 12 to March 27, 2024. The festival, offering a range of musical experiences, will feature chamber concerts, jazz clubs, and large orchestral concerts. The full program for the festival will be announced in December 2023.
In the Opening Concert of the Oulu Music Festival on March 12, 2024, classical music and jazz will come together. The first half will feature Vivaldi's beloved classic "The Four Seasons," performed by the Dutch recorder virtuoso Erik Bosgraaf and the Oulu Baroque Musicians ensemble. The performance will include a multimedia artwork created by Dutch artists Paul and Menno de Nooijer, along with sound artist Jorrit Tamminga.
The multimedia projections combined with the classic piece are filled with visual poetry. At times, the images follow the story behind Vivaldi's program notes, while at other times, they are inspired by free associations. Occasionally, the De Nooijer brothers use live projection on Bosgraaf's body. Between concertos, the audience will experience recorder improvisation and exciting electronic soundscapes that complement Vivaldi's brilliant composition.
In the second half of the Opening Concert, the focus shifts to the world of jazz with the release concert of the album "Lassy – Eskola: Nordic Stew LIVE." Renowned saxophonist Timo Lassy and trumpeter Jukka Eskola, among the most significant musicians of their generation, have joined forces for the new Nordic Stew album and live project.
Lassy and Eskola have collaborated since the 1990s. In 2022, the friends traveled to New Orleans to record their album with local top musicians, resulting in Nordic Stew—a blend of Lassy's and Eskola's musical experiences combined with a deep love for the birthplace of jazz.
For the album release tour, Lassy and Eskola bring a lineup of top-notch musicians from the diverse jazz scene of New Orleans. The concert will feature, in addition to Lassy and Eskola, David Torkanowsky (USA) on piano, Roland Guerin (USA) on bass, Jason Marsalis (USA) on drums, and Miika Jämsä on tuba.
Oulu Music Festival has always featured classical music in the form of orchestral and chamber concerts, and over the years, jazz has also secured its place in the festival's program. The 2024 Opening Concert at Oulu Music Festival brings together both pillars of the festival—providing an excellent opportunity to experience both genres.
The festival program has been curated by the artistic directors of Oulu Music Festival, soprano Mari Palo, and pianist/composer Kari Ikonen.
Oulu Music Festival: Opening Concert
Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 7:00 PM
Madetoja Hall, Oulu Music Centre
Leevi Madetojan katu 1-3
Concert duration approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes (including intermission)