News
26.10.2017
New Bach CD is out!
A new installment of Helsinki Baroque Orchestra’s recording series of Bach’s harpsichord concertos has been released. This third volume includes concertos for two harpsichords, played by Aapo Häkkinen and Pierre Hantaï. The recording is produced by the noted German record company AEOLUS.
CDs are available for purchase from Fuga or directly from AEOLUS.
The earlier volumes in the series were enthusiastically received:
Bach, vol. 1
These performances are enjoyable, even thrilling. In the rip-roaring Italian Concerto that rounds off the disc (…) the harpsichord achieves almost organ-like fullness. Wow!
Lindsay Kemp, Gramophone, 3/2013
Bach, vol. 2
One of the true delights is the beautiful phrasing of the upper strings – Bach’s part-writing rarely gets this kind of exposure.
Brian Clark, Early Music Review, 10/2013
3.8.2017
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra celebrates 20th anniversary
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Helsinki Baroque Orchestra. To mark the occasion, a star-studded line-up will perform in the anniversary concert at the Musiikkitalo on September 24. The programme explores the musical connection between Schumann and Bach.
The soloists are international stars: British soprano Carolyn Sampson, German countertenor Benno Schachtner, German tenor Werner Güra, British bass Jonathan Sells and German bass Cornelius Uhle. Grammy Award winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir completes the world-class line-up.
HeBO´s long-standing collaboration with Kristiina Helin, an opera director whose visualisations of contemporary music concerts as well as opera productions are well known, will continue. For the anniversary concert she will create a large thread installation, subtly living with the music.
Aapo Häkkinen, HeBO’s artistic director for the past 14 years, takes his rightful place in front of the orchestra as conductor.
The idea for a baroque orchestra came into being as a student project in 1997. Two decades later, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra is one of the most internationally successful professional orchestras in Finland. HeBO frequently performs in the most highly regarded concert venues both in Finland and abroad: this year the orchestra tours in Europe and Japan. HeBO produces concerts series in Helsinki and Rauma, as well as organizing a summer festival in Janakkala.
11.5.2017
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra tours Europe with René Jacobs
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra embarks on an extensive tour of Europe in May. With seven dates in all, the tour opens in Helsinki on May 9th, followed by concerts in Germany, Spain and Belgium.
The programme consists of Mozart, Kraus and Beethoven. The soloist is Sophie Karthäuser, considered a “born Mozartean” and one of the finest Mozart sopranos of our time. René Jacobs, a stalwart of early music, will be conducting, and excitingly, including Beethoven’s symphonies in his repertoire for the first time.
All of the concert venues are known for high quality programming. One of the highlights will be the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, which with its 2,500 seat auditorium is the largest in Germany. Besides HeBO, other stellar performers in Festspielhaus Baden-Baden this season include the Berliner Philharmoniker, The Vienna Philharmonic, Diana Damrau and Hilary Hahn.
Tour programme:
9.5. Musiikkitalo, Helsinki
11.5. Kursaal, San Sebastián
12.5. Teatro Antzokia Principal, Vitoria
14.5. Festspielhaus, Baden-Baden
17.5. De Bijloke, Gent
19.5. Festsaal, Stadttheater Ingolstadt
21.5. Palacio Euskalduna, Bilbao
Joseph Martin Kraus
Suite from Dido and Aeneas, VB 23
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart
Alma grande e nobil core, KV 578
Basta, vincesti, KV 295a
Bella mia fiamma, addio, KV 528
—
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ah! perfido, op. 65
Symphony no 1 in C Major, op. 21
Sophie Karthäuser, soprano
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra
conductor René Jacobs
19.9.2016
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra Tours Asia
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra breaks new ground this season by touring extensively in Asia. The orchestra has been invited to perform at several notable venues in South Korea, Japan and China.
The first of the three debuts took place already in July and August when HeBO played three concerts at the Pyeongchang Festival in South Korea, directed by Aapo Häkkinen. The soloist was Sunhae Im who debuted in the Early Music Series in Finland in 2014, and is currently based in Berlin. This programme of Bach was also performed in Finland at the BRQ Vantaa Festival.
Coming up in October: the famous Suntory Hall in Tokyo and two concerts at the Bandai Music Festival in Japan, followed by a return to South Korea – this time for two concerts at the Tongyeong Concert Hall. The soloist will be Johannes Pramsohler, a Paris based Italian violinist. In addition to Bach, Handel and Telemann, the programme includes pieces by Johan Helmich Roman, the ”Swedish Handel” with Finnish roots.
In December HeBO will embark on a tour of China, with confirmed dates at Harbin Concert Hall, Shanghai Oriental Arts Centre, Tianjin Grand Theatre, and Dunhuang Grand Theatre. The programme includes HeBO’s core material: Bach and Vivaldi. HeBO’s regular guest, Baroque violin superstar Dmitry Sinkovsky will be the soloist.
The tour concludes back in Finland with concerts on the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. These concerts are part of the official Suomi 100 – Finland centenary celebrations. At the same time, they mark the beginning of HeBO’s own 20-year anniversary celebrations.
Tickets to the popular New Year’s concerts are available from September 26.
4.2.2016
Joyce DiDonato at Helsinki Music Centre 26.11.
Joyce DiDonato visits Helsinki Music Centre with the italian Baroque orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro! “The dynamite mezzosoprano” explores the dichotomy of discord and harmony in times of war, through her powerful interpretation of Baroque arias.
Helsinki Music Centre, Concert Hall
26th Nov 19:00
In War & Peace: Harmony through Music
Monteverdi, Purcell, Handel, Leo, Jommelli
Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano
Il Pomo d’Oro
dir. Maxim Emelyanychev
Stage Director Ralf Pleger
Lighting Designer Henning Blum
Choreographer / Dancer Manuel Palazzo
Executive Producer Joyce DiDonato
17.12.2015
Spring season 2016
Browse here our programme for spring season in Helsinki Music Centre: 2016concerts
17.11.2015
Fadista Ricardo Ribeiro visits Helsinki at New Year
The New Year’s concerts bring together two musical cultures in a suprising and delighting way. Ricardo Ribeiro, one of the most famous and respected Fado singers of the present day, visits Helsinki together with beautifully voiced soprano Ana Quintans and guitarists Miguel Amaral and Marco Oliveira. The baroque orchestra is directed by Marcos Magalhães.
Ricardo Ribeiro: ”Once heard, never forgotten” – Expresso
Fado Barroco
Helsinki Music Centre
31st Dec 19:00
1st Jan 16:00
Ana Quintans, soprano
Ricardo Ribeiro, fadista
Miguel Amaral & Marco Oliveira, cavaquinho & quitars
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra
dir. Marcos Magalhães
Ana Quintans, photo: Mário Melo Costa
30.8.2015
Valer Sabadus’ debut in Finland 15.11.
”I have never experienced a voice like this!” – Musical America.
The young counter tenor Valer Sabadus has swiftly taken over the operatic world receiving rave reviews all over Europe. The romanian-born singer is widely praised for his flowing coloratura and imposing presence on stage. Valer Sabadus now makes his debut in Finland with Helsinki Baroque Orchestra. The concert in Helsinki Music Centre 15th November will be directed by Skip Sempé, one of the today’s forefront musical personalities in Renaissaince and Baroque music.
The concert is part of Helsinki Baroque Orchestra’s Top Solists concert series. The next concerts in the series are:
Tenor Werner Güra 10th May 2016
Mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato 26th November 2016
The concert with Valer Sabadus will be performed also in Therpsichore festival in Paris 17th November.
30.8.2015
Aapo Häkkinen interviewed by Fanfare Magazine 1/2015
Aapo Häkkinen, the artistic Director of Helsinki Baroque orchestra since 2003, was interviewed by Fanfare magazine. Read the article here:
A CONVERSATION WITH HARPSICHORDIST AND CONDUCTOR AAPO HÄKKINEN