Nordic Soundscapes
Music crafted from nature: Sibelius to Outi Tarkiainen
September – November 2024
![Nordic_Aurora+TT_960x600px](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/04/12164243/Nordic_AuroraTT_960x600px.png)
Our autumn series Nordic Soundscapes explores the relationship between music, nature and the climate crisis from a Nordic perspective.
Our Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali, who loves to walk, forage, hunt and meditate in the forest around his home in Finland, delves into his deep connection with the music and landscapes of his homeland. Fellow Finns Esa-Pekka Salonen and Emilia Hoving also conduct key concerts.
Sibelius’s music, inextricably entwined with Finnish national identity, is a vital thread through the series. As well as three of his symphonies, there’s a rare chance to hear his ‘choral symphony’ Kullervo, performed by the YL Male Voice Choir from Helsinki, the choir that premiered many of his works.
Grieg and Nielsen feature too, their music rubbing shoulders with UK premieres by composers from across the Nordic region who are making their mark on the present and future of orchestral music.
Three of the concerts feature mesmerising underwater footage of the Nordic coast, on the Royal Festival Hall’s huge screen. Joakim Odelberg’s short films, directed by Andrea Östlund and accompanied by vivid scores by Mats Larsen Gothe, Miho Hazama and Outi Tarkiainen, highlight the impact of humans on fragile marine ecosystems.
In four Sunday afternoon sessions entitled Notes on Nature, artists, environmental experts and campaigners lead open discussions on some of the challenges and dilemmas facing us as we confront the climate crisis, and the role of the arts as a catalyst for change. Hear provocative points of view and join in the debate, over coffee and cinnamon buns.
Nordic Soundscapes Pass
Join us for the journey.
Our Nordic Soundscapes Pass gets you great seats for every London event in the series. Passholders also receive a series magazine signed by Santtu, and an invitation to drinks on the opening night.
Gold pass: £250
- Top price seats in the front stalls for all five full price Royal Festival Hall concerts (worth at least £360)
- Reserved seating in the front stalls for the two free Royal Festival Hall concerts
- Reserved table seating at the four Notes on Nature discussions
- A series magazine signed by our Principal Conductor, Santtu-Matias Rouvali
- Invitation to complimentary drinks on the opening night
Silver pass: £150
- Seats in the first few rows of the rear stalls for all five full price Royal Festival Hall concerts (worth at least £260)
- All other benefits as above
Bronze pass: £75
- Seats in the balcony or the rear stalls for all five full price Royal Festival Hall concerts (worth up to £210)
- All other benefits as above
Please note that concerts included in the Nordic Soundscapes Pass will not count towards a multibuy discount.
![240926 Santtu credit Marco Borggreve Santtu-Matias Rouvali standing in the snow surrounded by bare trees, looking up towards the sky](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/02/16131954/240926-Santtu-credit-Marco-Borggreve-16x10.jpg)
Santtu conducts Sibelius and Grieg
Santtu-Matias Rouvali – conductor
Stephen Hough – piano
Johanna Rusanen – soprano
Tommi Hakala – baritone
Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat Male Voice Choir
- Sigfúsdóttir Oceans (London premiere)
- Grieg Piano Concerto
- Sibelius Kullervo
![Virtual Orchestra Sibelius](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/27150944/Virtual-Orchestra-Sibelius-16x10.png)
![240928 Stephen Hough credit Sim Canetty-Clarke Stephen Hough sat at the piano smiling into camera](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/13142330/240928-Stephen-Hough-credit-Sim-Canetty-Clarke-16x10.jpg)
Canterbury: Stephen Hough plays Grieg
Santtu-Matias Rouvali – conductor
Stephen Hough – piano
- Sibelius The Oceanides
- Grieg Piano Concerto
- Sibelius Symphony No. 3
![240929_Talking_Nature_Oceans_and_Coasts_credit_Fragile_Hope_Joakim_Odelberg An orca whale visible just above the water, against a pink sunset](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115650/240929_Talking_Nature_Oceans_and_Coasts_credit_Fragile_Hope_Joakim_Odelberg-16x10.jpg)
Notes on Nature 1: The Sea
Joakim Odelberg (filmmaker) – host
Jon Copley (environmental scientist) – host
Dan Grimley (musicologist) – guest
![240929_Santtu_conducts_Sibelius_and_Nielsen_Bomsori_Kim_credit_Kyutai_Shim Bomsory Kim looking into the camera and smiling](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115638/240929_Santtu_conducts_Sibelius_and_Nielsen_Bomsori_Kim_credit_Kyutai_Shim-16x10.jpg)
Santtu conducts Sibelius and Nielsen
Santtu-Matias Rouvali – conductor
Bomsori Kim – violin
- Sibelius The Oceanides
- Nielsen Violin Concerto
- Hazama What the Wind Brings (UK premiere, with film)
- Sibelius Symphony No. 3
![241006_Music_of_Today_Kaija_Saariaho_and_Hans_Abrahamsen_Chloe_Rooke_credit_Nick_Rutter](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/05/10104443/241006_Music_of_Today_Kaija_Saariaho_and_Hans_Abrahamsen_Chloe_Rooke_credit_Nick_Rutter-16x10.jpg)
Music of Today: Kaija Saariaho and Hans Abrahamsen
Chloe Rooke – conductor
Olivia Boen – soprano
- Kaija Saariaho Semafor (UK premiere)
- Hans Abrahamsen Two Inger Christensen Songs (UK premiere)
![241009 Philharmonia Orchestra credit Sisi Burn Close up shot from behind of the Philharmonia's wind section, focusing on oboe and flute](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/04/03124856/241009-Philharmonia-Orchestra-credit-Sisi-Burn-16x10.jpg)
Bedford: Sibelius, Grieg & Nielsen
Vinay Parameswaran – conductor
Juho Pohjonen – piano
- Nielsen Helios Overture
- Grieg Piano Concerto
- Sibelius Symphony No. 5
![47D5765144204E0E BC3F569DA379AEB1](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115734/241010_Philharmonia_Chamber_Players_Salonen_and_Nielsen_Esa-Pekka_Salonen_credit_-Benjamin-Suomela-16x10.jpg)
Philharmonia Chamber Players: Salonen and Nielsen
Philharmonia Wind Quintet
- Salonen Memoria
- Nielsen Wind Quintet
![241027_Talking_Nature_Forests_Forest_of_Piippilakinpuisto_in_Havukoski,_Vantaa,_Finland_public_domain Landscape shot of a forest in the daylight](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115815/241027_Talking_Nature_Forests_Forest_of_Piippilakinpuisto_in_Havukoski_Vantaa_Finland_public_domain-16x10.jpg)
Notes on Nature 2: The Forest
Julian Glover (journalist) – host
Vidya Patel (dancer, Philharmonia Artist in Residence) – host
Annika Lindskog (musicologist) – guest
Sigrun Sævarsdóttir-Griffiths (Icelandic musician) – guest
![241027 In_the_Land_of_the_Mountain_King_Emilia_Hoving_credit_Laura_Oja](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115755/241027-In_the_Land_of_the_Mountain_King_Emilia_Hoving_credit_Laura_Oja-16x10.jpg)
Sibelius & Grieg: In the Land of the Mountain King
Emilia Hoving – conductor
- Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
- Outi Tarkiainen Mosaics (UK premiere, with film)
- Sibelius Symphony No. 2
![Notes on Nature Wildlife strolling_reindeer_c._Alexandre_Buisse_Wikimedia_Commons Reindeer strolling in greenery](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/04/15124407/Notes-on-Nature-Wildlife-strolling_reindeer_c._Alexandre_Buisse_Wikimedia_Commons-16x10.jpg)
Notes on Nature 3: Wildlife
Santtu-Matias Rouvali (Philharmonia Principal Conductor) – host
Laurence Rose (conservationist, composer) – host
Ruth Padel (poet, novelist) – guest
![241103_María_Dueñas_plays_Sibelius_credit_Milagro_Elstak](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115422/241103_Maria_Duenas_plays_Sibelius_credit_Milagro_Elstak-16x10.jpg)
María Dueñas plays Sibelius
Santtu-Matias Rouvali – conductor
María Dueñas – violin
- Larsson Gothe Submarea (UK premiere, with film)
- Sibelius Violin Concerto
- Nielsen Symphony No. 5
![241110_Talking_Nature_The_Role_of_Humans_credit_Fragile_Hope _Joakim_Odelberg A scuba diver under water](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115512/241110_Talking_Nature_The_Role_of_Humans_credit_Fragile_Hope-_Joakim_Odelberg-16x10.jpg)
Notes on Nature 4: The Human Dimension
Andrew Mellor (journalist, critic) – host
Love Ssega (musician) – host
![241110_Salonen_conducts_Sibelius_and_Lindberg_credit_Luca_Migliore](https://philharmonia-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2024/03/12115458/241110_Salonen_conducts_Sibelius_and_Lindberg_credit_Luca_Migliore-16x10.jpg)
Salonen conducts Sibelius and Lindberg
Esa-Pekka Salonen – conductor
Lawrence Power – viola
- Wennäkoski Flounce
- Lindberg Viola Concerto (UK premiere)
- Sibelius Symphony No. 1