Music and Stories about Kivi – Juha Hurme – Aleksi Parviainen – Marie Körkkö

Finlandia Award-winning author and theatre director Juha Hurme, composer-singer Aleksi Parviainen and pianist Marie Körkkö join forces in a unique lecture concert with music and stories about Aleksis Kivi.

"Behold; out of the mist of the swamp, out of the blazing fire rises a spell, a story..."

Aleksis Kivi (1834–1872) was a hugely prolific writer, who also suffered from serious mental health problems for all his life. Kivi's personal life story, together with his stunningly inspiring literary production, have served as a catalyst for the creation of this unique performance of stories and music.

In addition to Juha Hurme's lecture, the presentation includes two premieres: Unaccompanied song series "Steinklang", composed by Aleksi Parviainen, who interprets Aleksis Kivi’s with his modern poem singing. The solo piano pieces composed by Marie Körkkö are inspired by Kivi's play The Brothers Seven.

The programme culminates in Einojuhani Rautavaara's rarely heard suite of songs, "Four Songs from the Opera Aleksis Kivi" (1996), performed by Parviainen and Körkkö.

The performance pays tribute to the life's work of Finland’s national author, Aleksis Kivi, on what would be his 190th birthday.

Music and Stories about Kivi will have its first performance in Kanneltalo on 10 October 2024, which is also the World Mental Health Day.

Performers:
Juha Hurme
Marie Körkkö
Aleksi Parviainen

Language: Finnish