–This year’s festival week kicks off with familiar events
Current circumstances will affect this year’s Kokkola Winter Accordion, but the show will go on – and with performances that are well-known to festival followers, the ones that will really make you feel like the festival is finally underway!
Monday means Young Virtuosos
An annual tradition and a festival favorite, Young Virtuosos Let Loose will take over Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory’s main hall on Monday evenings and will impress us with their repertoire. Traditions will be honored – but approached in a slightly different way.
”We filmed a performance in January and pieced together a concert that will be shown Monday, February 8 at 18.00,” says the festival’s artistic director Raimo Vertainen.
”We were able to create a powerful concert without a live audience. Every performer is a music student from either Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory or Centria University. The taped performance will allow viewers to enjoy the concert at their leisure,” says Mr. Vertainen.
Tuesdays Sledding Event
Tuesday afternoon at Winter Accordion means music-meets-sledding – and this year is no exception. The afternoon at Roskaruka starts as usual at 17.00 with a traditional serving of warm juice to be enjoyed between downhill sled rides. Kokkola’s Jymy will serve the drinks in a socially distanced fashion.
Concerts for Schoolchildren
Concerts for schoolchildren will take place as usual, but this year’s performances have been pre-recorded, a situation that carries both advantages and disadvantages.
”Of course it’s a pity that we can’t have live concerts for the students this year, but on the other hand the performances can be viewed by elementary school students throughout the city,” says Pertti Kousmanen, chairman of the Kokkola Winter Accordion association.
The spotlight of this Finnish-language concert is Mimmit, featuring Pauliina Lerche (accordion) and Hannamari Vallila (melodica) with Bägge on vocals. Expect a lively concert that will take young viewers on an interactive journey with adventures ranging from discovering dinasours to a trip through the human digestive tract.
Kokkola resident Julia Hansson originally created the program for Swedish-speaking elementary school students. She recorded the interactive performance with a little help from her friends, and will also take part in the Jukkolanmäki performance in Lohtaja.
An evening at Jokkolanmäki will consist of classical music, featuring Léna François-Poulet (accordion), Julia Mušáková (violin), Julia Hansson (accordion and vocals), as well as Katri Antikainen (cello). Expect a range of classical greats, ranging from Bach to Aulis Sallinen and Manuel De Falla.