From darkness to light: Beethoven 9 in Helsinki

By Zoltán Szabó, 21 December 2020

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Reviewed at Music Centre / Musiikkitalo: Concert Hall, Helsinki on 18 December 2020

Beethoven, Symphony no. 9 in D minor "Choral", Op.125

Helena Juntunen, Soprano

Virpi Räisänen, Mezzo-soprano

Loïc Félix, Tenor

Tommi Hakala, Baritone

Helsinki Chamber Choir

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Susanna Mälkki, Conductor

Premiere of Zinovjev's Taste of Metal in Helsinki

No’a L. bat Miri, 13th February

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra offers up a double-serving of Tchaikovsky, with Hannu Lintu and Daniel Lozakovich, alongside the world premiere of Sauli Zinovjev's First Symphony.

***11

Saraste and the Helsinki Philharmonic in Hamburg

Mengguang Huang, 22nd November

The Helsinki Philharmonic’s winter visit to Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie offers a vivid portrait of Finnish musical identity at its most compelling.

****1

Hands across the Baltic

Matthew Rye, 22nd August

The music of Sibelius and Mahler may seem worlds apart, but this concert by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, celebrating Finland's centenary, proved that opposites can attract.

***11

Sibelius played to the manner born by the Helsinki PO

Peter Marks, 10th December

An all Sibelius concert played with precision and flair by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra fails to provide fresh insights into the composer's enigmatic works but violinist Christal Lee is a soloist to watch.

***11

Gripping musical storytelling in Lahti

Peter Connors, 31st August

The Finnish forests, the creation of the world and a mythical hero were vividly brought to life in the opening concert of the 15th Sibelius Festival in Lahti

*****

Captivante visite de l’Orchestre philharmonique d’Helsinki à Bruxelles

Patrice Lieberman, 10th October

Première visite à Bruxelles de l'Orchestre philharmonique d'Helsinki depuis 1900 : sous la direction formidable de Susanna Mälkki, la phalange finlandaise a livré une performance mémorable.

****1

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Zoltán Szabó

Zoltán Szabó is a cellist and musicologist. Having migrated from his native Hungary to Australia in 1985, he worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney until 1991, when he became Principal Cello with Opera Australia. In 2017, he was awarded with a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD). Currently, he is teaching music history and musicology at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

From darkness to light: Beethoven 9 from Susanna Mälkki and the Helsinki Philharmonic