The Finnish Cultural Institute for Benelux: January News

_January News: Participate and win new Finnish literature!

Happy New Year - we have a lot in store for 2010! It all starts now: the Christmas break may be over but we are still handing out presents. We are giving out two copies of Riikka Pulkkinen's critically acclaimed novel 'De Grens' as well as two copies of Sofi Oksanen's masterpiece 'Zuivering' to four lucky readers. For a chance to win these prizes, simpy send an email with the word 'Riikka' or 'Sofi', according to your preference, to info@finncult.be by January 21st. The lucky winners will be contacted personally on January 22nd.

_Sounds of Sibelius in Liège

One of the most esteemed and oldest male choirs in Finland, the YL Male Voice Choir ("Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat") will visit Liège on 30th January. The choir will give two concerts as part of the Liège Philharmonic's Visa Festival for Europe which concentrates on European nationalism in the 19th century. The Liège Philharmonic Orchestra Wallonia-Brussels is recognised as ‘the best orchestra in Belgium'.

The YL Male Choir's first concert will consist of pieces by Sibelius, Rautavaara, Palmgren, Schubert etc. During the second concert the choir together with baritone Ville Rusanen and soprano Johanna Rusanen-Kartano will perform the magnificent "Kullervo" by Jean Sibelius. Composed in 1892 by Finland's most famous composer, the story behind the composition comes from Finland's national epic, the "Kalevala". Read more...

_Classical music for the whole family

The world-renowned Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu arrives in Antwerp and Ghent next January for three concerts. The first one will take place in Antwerp on 30th January with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra and with Eldar Nebulsin in the piano. The programme will consist of symphonies by Prokofiev and Haydn and a piano concerto by Beethoven.

On the following day Hannu Lintu will conduct both in Antwerp and in Ghent two concerts targeted at children. The concerts centre around the fabulous stories told of the Baron von Munchausen and his adventures. In addition to the music, the presence of Flemish actor Warre Borgmans at the concerts will ensure the fantastical stories come alive. More information about Antwerp and about Gent...

_Theatre in Belgium: Are there tigers in Congo?

In 2009 the KVS bought you Kristian Smeds' Mental Finland. In 2010, the play "Y a-t-il des tigres au Congo?" by Finnish playwrights Bengt Ahlfors and Johan Bargum ("Finns det tigrar i Kongo?" in Swedish) will be staged on 2nd - 13th February at the Théâtre de la Balsamine in Brussels and on 26th - 27th February at the Théâtre le Moderne in Liège. The play is a metafictional piece about two playwrights who receive an order to write a play for two actors about AIDS. "Y a-t-il des tigres au Congo?" is a surprisingly humorous take on a serious subject. Through comedy, ambiguity and self-reflection the play provokes the audience to question their own ideas and preconceptions of the disease. More information here...

_The string-quartet Meta4 enraptures in Brussels

The Finnish chamber music orchestra Meta4 will visit the Royal Conservatory in Brussels on 8th of February next year. The ensemble of two violins, a viola and a cello will enchant the audience with pieces by Szymanowski, Schubert and the young Finnish composer Jaakko Kuusisto. The group of young musicians has previously been awarded with the Shostakovich Prize (2004) and they won the Joseph Haydn competition in Vienna in 2007, the same year they were also recognized by the Ministry of Culture in Finland. Tickets and more information...

_Contemporary classical music with Susanna Mälkki

Another Finnish conductor visiting the Benelux in the spring is Susanna Mälkki. Mälkki began her career as a cellist, playing for instance first cello in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, but devoting herself later fully to conducting. At the Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam she will conduct the French chamber orchestra Ensemble Contemporain at a Saturday matinee concert with Sébastien Vichard at the piano. The pieces heard on April 24th at Het Concertgebouw are "Sérendib" by Murail, "Nieuw werk" by Bertrand, "Oiseaux exotiques" by Messiaen and "At First Light" by Benjamin. Tickets and more information...

_Folky Scandinavian sounds with a fresh twist

Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi and Markku Lepistö together with contrabassist Pekka Lehti are to perform in the Netherlands in early April. Each with a vast musical back catalogue, Lepistö ja Lehti are known, for instance, as former members of the world-renowned Finnish folk music group, Värttinä. Being the first person ever to win the Finnish Golden Accordion championship, Kalaniemi has done an extensive career in folk music in Finland and abroad. The ensemble's first concert on April 7th will take place in Amsterdam and the second one two days later in Utrecht. During the concerts Kalaniemi, Lepistö and Lehti will perform traditional northern music reinterpreted with a touch of classical music, jazz and even the tango. Read more...
_Don't forget this ongoing cultural event...

_The finest of European applied arts in Mons

Up until 24th January the exhibition European Prize for Applied Arts, which contains works by a hundred artists specialized in applied arts and design-led crafts, will take place in Mons. The artists have come to Mons from 21 different countries and six of the artists from Finland: Aino Kajaniemi, Chao-Hsien Kuo, Mervi Kurvinen, Tiina Rajakallio, Satu Syrjänen and Ulla-Maija Vikman. The exhibition will culminate in awarding two of its finest artists with the European Prize for Applied Arts. Read more...

_Still missing information?

For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact us. Remember also to check out our website, Facebook or Twitter for all the latest news concerning the institute and our events!