The Helsinki Strings (Helsingin Juniorijouset) is a world-renowned string orchestra consisting of students from the East Helsinki Music Institute and the Sibelius Academy. Ages of the members vary between ten and twenty. The orchestra was founded in 1972 by the internationally acclaimed music pedagogues, Csaba and Géza Szilvay. At present, the conductor of the orchestra is Mr Jukka Rantamäki. The Helsinki Strings have released forty internationally acclaimed albums, i.a. for the labels Finlandia Records and Warner Classics. A substantial number of today’s active professional Finnish musicians have played as members of The Helsinki Strings over the years, and several have achieved international fame. The Helsinki Strings have made Finland, Finnish music and string pedagogy known all over the world. Conductor of The Helsinki Strings, Jukka Rantamäki began his violin studies under Géza Szilvay's tuition and continued his studies at the Sibelius Academy. In his childhood, Rantamäki was the leader of the Helsinki Junior Strings (now called The Helsinki Strings) and he has been leader of the Tapiola Sinfonietta (Espoo, Finland) since 1987. Program: Ahti Sonninen: Old men's Hymn from the Central Finland (Based on a traditional Finnish tune) Carl Nielsen: Little Suite 1. Präludium 2. Intermezzo 3. Finale Frank Bridge: Three Idylls 1. Adagio molto espressivo 2. Allegretto poco lento 3. Allegro con moto Benjamin Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge 1. Introduction and Theme 2. Adagio 3. March 4. Romance 5. Aria Italiana 6. Wiener Walz 7. Moto Perpetuo 8. Funeral March 9. Chant 10. Fugue and Finale Béla Bartók: Ostinato, from the Microcosm (Arranged for strings by Ahti Sonninen) Conductor: Jukka Rantamäki
Tickets are available for 1200 HUF on the spot, in the national JEGYPONT network of Interticket and online at JEGY.HU.