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The State Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Karelia, who gained both critical acclaim and great popular success last season for their performance in Logomo’s first symphony concert ever, will carry on with the synergizing of three different cultures in first visits at Sibelius Hall on November 2nd, and at Helsinki Music Centre on November 4th. The tour will also include a visit at Tampere Hall on November 6th. Concerts will be hosted by Krisse Salminen (Lahti, Tampere) and Janne Porkka (Helsinki).

Last season, the orchestra visited among other places Lapland performing in the Ruskarock&Culture Festival at Olos Polar Centre and in Petroskoy, Russia at the Philharmonic’s sold-out opening concert for the season. The conductor of the orchestra for the tour is the Spanish conductor comet José Maria Moreno, and the piano soloist is Pauli Kari.

The programme consists of Michail Glinka’s Prelude “Ruslan and Lyudmila”, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto no. 2, Hector Berlioz’s Symphonie Fastastique, and Frederik Chopin’s Grande Polonaise Brillante.

Rachmaninoff composed this concerto, the most renowned among its kind in the Romantic era, during the years 1900-1901, and dedicated it to his own physician, Doctor Nikolai Dahl. It was first performed in Moscow on October 27th, 1901 conducted by Rachmaninoff’s cousin Alexandr Siloti, while Rachmaninoff himself appeared as the soloist. Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto can be found, amongst others, in Frank Sinatra’s performances and in the ballad “All by myself” by Eric Carmen, as well as in several Hollywood films: for example, in the film Hereafter (2010) directed by Clint Eastwood. The State Philharmonic Orchestra of Karelia was founded on January 15th, 1939 and has since acted as the centre for music life in the Republic of Karelia. Today, the centre also houses the Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra Onego, and the internationally renowned quartet Ekpromt. The Philharmonia arranges four different festivals in Petroskoy each year covering various genres. Soloists for the orchestra have included names like Richter, Gilels, Rostropovich, Pletnev, Bashmet and Netrebko. In addition the orchestra has performed music by Tuomas Kantelinen, from the Finnish film Rukajärventie” starring Peter Franzén and Irina Björklund.

Conductor José María Moreno has successfully directed several European orchestras. One of his most recent successes was conducting the Berlin Symphony Orchestra performing, among other pieces, Verdi’s Requiem. Moreno finalised his studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg under the supervision of maestro Michail Kukushkin, receiving the highest possible grades. He has additionally had the honour of conducting several renowned European orchestras in co-operation with great names such as José Carrerás in concerts with dignitaries such as Pope John Paul II, and King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain attending.

Pauli Kari has been exceptionally successful in his international career, receiving critical acclaim for his performances. Kari has appeared as soloist for various orchestras, and given solo recitals all around the world. He has also had great success in international piano competitions, winning the first prizes, and several sponsorship contracts. During the season 2013-2014 World premieres will include composer Severi Pyysalo’s first piano concerto “GREEN”.

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