Lunch concerts of Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in Helsinki libraries this autumn

The first concert will be held in Vallila Library on Tuesday 1 September, and the last concert will be in Lauttasaari Library on Thursday 22 October. The concerts will be held between 1 September and 22 October on each weekday at lunchtime, 12 noon, in one of Helsinki’s libraries. The lunch concerts are 30-minute chamber music performances where the musicians of Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra play as smaller chamber ensembles in the libraries.

This is a first collaboration project of this scale between Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the City Library. The tour will allow Helsinki residents to enjoy first-class chamber music concerts widely throughout the city. The concerts are free for the audience, as are all Helsinki City Library events.

”When the Philharmonic Orchestra’s General Manager Aleksi Malmberg called us in late spring and suggested a library tour by the orchestra musicians, it felt like an anniversary present to the City Library: this autumn marks 160 years from the opening of the first library. During this anniversary season, it feels especially great to have music in all libraries. I’m anticipating that both the musicians and the customers will have extremely touching and unique concert experiences,” says Helsinki’s Director of Library Services Katri Vänttinen.

“Close to forty libraries around the city is a major network for Helsinki to be proud of, even by international standards. I am very pleased that during this exceptional autumn the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Helsinki City Library are able to work together to bring a local daily musical moment to the people of this city. It says a lot about the can-do attitude of Helsinki”, says General Manager of Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Aleksi Malmberg.

More detailed information about the concert programmes will be published on Helmet.fi at the end of August. You can see the tour’s schedule at www.helmet.fi/librarytour.

We will adhere to the instructions of the National Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education and Culture regarding public events. Safe distances will be observed in the concerts. Visitors will be able to wash their hands and use hand sanitiser in the libraries.

Further information:

Director of Library Services Katri Vänttinen
Helsinki City Library
+358 (0)40 5548861, katri.vanttinen@hel.fi

Communications Specialist Marjo Haatainen
Contact person for the communications of Helsinki City Library
+358 (0)50 3828150, marjo.haatainen@hel.fi

General Manager Aleksi Malmberg
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
+358 (0)50 302 1669, aleksi.malmberg@hel.fi

Head of Communications and Marketing Marja Istala Kumpunen
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
+358 (0)50 555 3551, marja.istalakumpunen@hel.fi