Musicians have escaped from the Concert Hall and are frolicking around Turku! During the week, you can find us in daily daytime concerts, swirling in the dance at shopping centers, feeling the jazz vibes at Ruissalo Shipyard, and enjoying super cute The Mole concerts.
All events will be announced during the spring, and the event list will be updated.
Join us and spot a musician!
In the spring season, emotions resonate at full volume. Check out concert recommendations for the beginning of the year.
The spring season of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra kicks off with a resounding romantic symphony and an emotional and delicate song cycle. The charismatic Danish conductor Christian Kluxen dazzles the audience with his interpretations. The concert features Richard Strauss' emotional and delicate song cycle "Vier letzte Lieder" interpreted by soprano Christina Nilsson, and Rued Langgaard's almost cinematically thundering romantic symphony "Pastoral of the cliffs." The symphony's imaginative expression is dominated by the idea that "more is more." Thursday 11.1. at 7 pm, and Friday 12.1. at 6 pm at the Turku Concert Hall. Secure your seat now!
The works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn stir classicalism with restrained yet passionate fervor. Haydn's Sturm und Drang, or Storm and Passion, symphonies, including Lamentatione, are paired with Mozart's Viennese classical light-hearted symphony. Nordic top cellist Andreas Brantelid interprets Haydn's cello concerto. Friday 19.1. at 6 pm at the Turku Concert Hall.
Starting with lively New Orleans ragtime, Suite Americana takes the listener on a journey across the Americas. Along the way, Brazilian bossa nova, Peruvian waltz, Argentine samba, and Mexican folk music become familiar. Chamber music concert on Sunday 21.1. at 3 pm at St. Henrik's Ecumenical Art Chapel.
Julian Rachlin returns to Turku to perform one of the world's most famous concertos. Felix Mendelssohn's violin concerto is among the all-time favorite, most performed, and beloved classical music pieces. Once you've heard the opening notes of the violin concerto, you'll never forget them – such is the power of the work's atmosphere. Thursday 25.1. at 7 pm and Friday 26.1. at 6 pm at the Turku Concert Hall.
These music postcards are stamped at the foot of the Colosseum and adorned with gelato! Ottorino Respighi's souvenirs are vignettes that depict Rome's fountains and pine trees. Gifts from Giacomo Puccini and Giuseppe Verdi bring extravagant opera, with notes dripping with love, despair, intrigues, and emotional storms. Thursday 1.2. at 7 pm at the Turku Concert Hall.
Salut! Turku Cathedral will echo with French impressionists, offering delicate impressions, snapshots, and vibrant tones. The program includes Claude Debussy's "L’après-midi d’un faune" which begins with a memorable flute solo, and Olivier Messiaen's song cycle "Poèmes pour Mi," performed by soprano Iida Antola. Thursday 8.2. at 7 pm.
Noemi Gyori takes on the challenge of Jacques Ibert's richly hued flute concerto, showcasing the instrument's clever, virtuosic, delicate, and passionate nature. The colorful melodies continue in Pyotr Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, immediately gripping the listener's emotions and holding them captive until the final notes of the piece. Thursday 15.2. at 7 pm, and Friday 16.2. at 6 pm at the Turku Concert Hall.
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Turku Jazz Orchestra are joining forces to offer music enthusiasts an unforgettable May Day concert celebrating the legendary composer maestro Henry Mancini's 100th anniversary. The concert on Wednesday, May 1, at 3 in in the Turku Concert Hall will feature Mancini's most iconic compositions in new, lush versions performed by the city's top orchestras, the brilliant big band, and the symphony orchestra. The fresh orchestrations are the work of conductor Ville Vannemaa.
Henry Mancini (1924–1994) is considered one of the most significant composers in film history. His accolades include four Academy Awards, a Golden Globe, and twenty Grammy Awards. Mancini's film music is characterized by strong melodies, universally recognized "earworms" such as Pink Panther and Baby Elephant Walk, timeless atmosphere, and imaginative use of various instruments in orchestrations. Additionally, Mancini was a pioneering composer, blending jazz influences with classical late-romantic orchestral music among the first. The May Day concert will feature music primarily from the films Hatari! (1962) and The Pink Panther (1963).
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra's Junior Club embarks on a tour to residential areas around Turku for the first time in 2024. The Junior Club has been a part of TFO since 2008, and its events have been held at the Concert Hall. The goal of the tour organized alongside the Junior Club at the Concert Hall is to reach families in different areas, bring the orchestra closer to everyday life, make it easily accessible, and introduce children to the orchestra's activities and the world of music.
"Junior Club has been extremely popular during the autumn, with club evenings filling up as soon as they were announced. In the spring, we want to make the club more accessible outside the city center," says orchestra producer Anni Niemensivu.
The Junior Club offers children the opportunity to learn about music in a fun and engaging way. In the club, they explore the world of a symphony orchestra, instruments, and orchestra musicians. The program of club evenings includes orchestra-themed games and activities, musician visits, playing instruments, singing, and various workshops. The instructors for the spring clubs are music educator Katri Heino and early music education teacher Satu Kastell.
During the spring season, the club will visit Ilpoinen Library on Tuesday, January 23rd, and February 13th, and Varissuo Library on Monday, March 4th, April 8th, and May 6th. In addition to the tour, the Junior Club will be held as usual at the Concert Hall on Wednesday, January 24th, February 14th, March 20th, April 17th, and May 15th.
For the Philharmonic Junior Club's Concert Hall evenings, pre-registration is required through the orchestra's website tfo.fi. Admission is free for the clubs at Ilpoinen and Varissuo libraries. Club activities are free of charge and are aimed at children aged 7–10.
In addition to the Junior Club activities, TPO's spring season includes concerts for children and youth. In the Children's Music Salon on Sunday, February 11th, there will be music describing the life and activities of animals and creatures, brought to life by the shadow theater Aura of Puppets. On Friday, March 22nd, and Saturday, March 23rd, TFO will perform with the family-favorite band Hevisaurus.
We are here throughout the Christmas season and New Year either by phone or in person. Check the opening hours for phone sales and ticket sales here.
Phone sales at the concert hall is closed 27.–29.12.2023. At other times, we will assist you by phone as usual.
Phone: Mon–Tue and Thu–Fri 9 am–3 pm, Wed 9 am–12 pm
Tel. (02) 262 0333
kulttuuri.myynti@turku.fi
Ticket sales and the Ars Musica cultural shop in the concert hall are closed 2.–5.1.2024. At other times, we will assist you in person as usual.
Turku Concert Hall, Aninkaistenkatu 9
Tue–Fri 12 pm–5 pm and in connection with TFO events until the start of the event.
You can also make ticket purchases at the Monitori Market Square.
You can buy tickets from the webshop regardless of the day and time.
Happy Christmas!
Thank you for the past concert season! Hope it has been rewarding. Remember to renew your season ticket for the upcoming season as well.
Season tickets are on sale until 11.1.2024.
You can repurchase your own, old seat 15.12.2023 the latest.
Baritone Aarne Pelkonen and the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra will perform atmospheric Christmas classics in the Beloved Christmas concerts on Thursday, December 7th, at 7 pm and Friday, December 8th, at 2 pm at the Concert Hall. The concerts will feature pieces such as "Jouluyö, juhlayö," "Sylvian joululaulu," and "Sydämeeni joulun teen." These concerts serve as release concerts for Pelkonen and TPO's "Rakas joulu" Christmas album, released on November 24th. The concerts will be conducted by Jutta Seppinen.
The "Rakas joulu" album includes nine beloved Christmas classics and two new compositions, with the song "Talvilaulu" being Aarne Pelkonen's own composition and "Metsän joulu" being composed by Antti Suonio. The TPO is led by Antti Rissanen on the album.
Baritone Aarne Pelkonen is one of the most sought-after opera and concert singers among the younger generation in Finland. He won the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 2013 and the Sibelius Singing Competition in 2015, captivating audiences with his compelling interpretations both on opera stages and in lieder performances. In 2023, Pelkonen celebrates his 10th anniversary as an artist.
Conductor and mezzo-soprano Jutta Seppinen has led several orchestras in Finland and abroad. Seppinen is the founder of the multidisciplinary group CHANGEnsemble and the artistic director of Key Ensemble.
Esther Yoo on joutunut peruuttamaan esiintymisensä, ja viulisti Petteri Iivonen korvaa Yoon Titaaninen sinfonia -konserteissa torstaina 30.11. klo 19 ja perjantaina 1.12. klo 18.
Ohjelmistoon ei tule muutoksia, ja Iivonen tulkitsee Samuel Barberin viulukonserton.
Petteri Iivonen on yksi viime vuosien menestyneimmistä suomalaisista viulutaiteilijoista, jonka soittoa on ylistetty muun muassa virheettömän tekniikan (Il Gazzettino) ansiosta. Vuonna 2010 Iivonen sijoittui toiseksi kansainvälisessä Jean Sibelius -viulukilpailussa ja hän on legendaarisen Opéra National de Paris 1. konserttimestari.
The chamber music concert on Sunday, December 3, at 4 p.m. in Betel Church features the viola and double bass in the spotlight. Right at the beginning of the concert, we are transported to southern landscapes with Efrain Oscher's composition "Escenas del Sur" for viola and double bass. Oscher is a composer, arranger, and flutist for whom music is a means of telling stories. Erwin Schulhoff's Concertino for flute, viola, and double bass contrasts with the piece. The afternoon concludes with Sergei Prokofiev's versatile G minor quintet.
The performers in the concert include TFO's musicians Isa Halme, violin, Mari Viluksela, viola, programme planning, Per Björkling double bass, programme planning, Sara Antikainen, flute, Jun Saotome, oboe, and Matteo Mastromarino, clarinet.
The debut recording of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Olli Mustonen, and tenor Ian Bostridge performing Mustonen's Second and Third Symphonies has been released on the Ondine label on November 3, 2023.
Composition has been a significant part of pianist-conductor Olli Mustonen's musical identity. Mustonen assumed the role of Artistic Director of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra since January 2021. Mustonen's extensive compositional output includes three symphonies, each with a connection to Finnish classic literature. Of the symphonies featured on the recently released recording, Symphony No. 2 "Johannes Angelos" (2013) draws inspiration from Mika Waltari's historical novel of the same name and the mystique of ancient Constantinople. Symphony No. 3 "Heavenly Lights" (2020), on the other hand, finds inspiration from the Kalevala and Finnish mythology.
On the newly released recording, the solo parts of the third symphony are performed by the internationally acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge. Both symphonies have been presented in the concert program for the 2022–2023 season of the TPO, with Mustonen conducting and Bostridge serving as the soloist for the third symphony in Turku last fall.
Listen to the album from Spotify
Olli Mustonen
Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
Ian Bostridge, tenor
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Olli Mustonen
Ondine, 2023