Einojuhani Rautavaara will celebrate his 85th anniversary in October. One of the internationally best known and most frequently performed Finnish composers, his music will be played in Switzerland, UK, Australia, USA, Germany and of course in Finland in the forthcoming weeks.

In addition to the most popular of his works, Cantus Arcticus from 1972, his newer works like the Manhattan Trilogy (2004) will also get several performances. The percussion concerto Incantations (2008) will have a German premiere in December, and the Finnish orchestras will have more than a dozen concerts with Rautavaara’s music during the season. In October, Kymi Sinfonietta will play Rautavaara’s Isle of Bliss also in St. Petersburg in Russia and Avanti! Quartet will play Rautavaara’s Pelimannit (Fiddlers) in Japan.

One of the celebratory concerts will be seen also on TV later. Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE and the European cultural TV network Arte will film the concerts of Rautavaara’s Vigilia (All-Night Vigil) by Helsinki Chamber Choir at the Uspenski Cathedral in Helsinki on 9 and 10 September.

Einojuhani Rautaavara @Boosey&Hawkes
Einojuhani Rautavaara @Fennica Gehrman