Avaus – a new vocal music festival
Avaus – a new vocal music festival
Nov
07
Fri
14:00 – 20:00
10–11°C
broken clouds
7.-9.11.2025
Avaus festival’s values are based on equality and diversity. Three concerts and various discussion events in Helsinki 7.-9.11.2025 offer an alternative perspective on what vocal music based on Western art music can be today, or what it has been in history. The festival will feature works composed by women and gender minorities, and will premiere completely new music composed for the festival.
Program
Fri 7.11.
“Ulkopuolisena” concert in the Vapaan Taiteen Tila, Ahjo Ensemble directed by Julia Lainema. Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM, concert at 7:00 PM. More info below.
Sat 8.11.
“Syvyyksissä” concert at Olaus Petri Church, Vino Ensemble directed by Viena Kangas, singer Linnéa Sundfaer Casserly. Concert at 7:00 PM.
Sun 9.11.
“Marginaalissa” panel discussion at Oodi Central Library, discussion by researcher Nuppu Koivisto-Kaasik, singer-researcher Marika Kivinen, choir conductor Julia Lainema. Discussion on the 3rd floor of Oodi at 12:00 PM.
Sun 9.11.
“La Voix Humaine” concert at Hakasalmen Huvila, singer Linnéa Sundfaer Casserly and accordionist Sini Ström. Concert at 2:00 PM.
Tickets to Fri 7.11. and Sat 8.11. concerts: https://holvi.com/shop/ahjoensemble/
Sun 9.11. panel discussion and the Hakasalmen huvila concert are free events, program sale on site.
Festival website: avausfestivali.squarespace.com
ULKOPUOLISENA
Vapaan Taiteen Tila Fri 7.11.2025 at 7:00 PM
Pre-concert talk at 6:30 PM
Four works will be heard in the Ahjo Ensemble’s Ulkopuolisena concert. Salla Hakkolan’s An die kunst examines the connection between people and its rupture through multi-sensory means – the audience is among the choir. The idea for Tag des Jahrs, composed for choir and electronics by Kaija Saariaho, arose from the challenge of communicating with a loved one who experienced a cerebral hemorrhage.
Martti Anttila’s Yhtä aikaa tässä ja poissa depicts the experiences of a transgender person. Stephen Webb’s A Resume for Gainful Employment criticizes the dehumanizing nature of modern work systems. The work, which will have its premiere at the concert, explores themes of alienation and the suppression of queer identity through the means of vocal expression in both classical and popular music style.
The program of the Ulkopuolisena concert:
Salla Hakkola: an die kunst (2018)
Kaija Saariaho: Tag des Jahrs for choir and electronics (2001)
Martti Anttila: Yhtä aikaa tässä ja poissa (2023)
Stephen Webb: A Resume for Gainful Employment (2024, premiere)
The concert includes an immersive section in which the audience and the choir move freely in the same space. The work features loud sounds and physical contact between the singers.
Upcoming
Fri 07 Nov 2025 – 09 Nov 2025 14:00 – 20:00
10–11°C
broken clouds
Address:
Vilhonvuorenkuja 15-16,
00500 Helsinki