Spanish flamenco legend Paco Peña is set to make his first appearance in Finland. A blend of fantasy and Japanese culture, Finncon-Animecon is an event certain to attract international writers and journalists. Jyväskylä Arts Festival will also acquire a new arena a big circus tent.
The 52nd Jyväskylä Arts Festival in mid-July offers close on a week of highly diverse events, international stars and entertainment to suit every taste. The oldest such event in the Nordic countries to be staged in unbroken fashion, the festival will again consist of top-quality concerts, laughter-packed physical theatre, contemporary circus and laid-back club sessions scheduled for the evenings. The programme also includes happenings for families plus a number of free street events. The festival has a total budget of 500 000 euro.
An exciting addition to this years festival will be provided by the large circus tent to be erected on the sports field of the Seminaarinmäki campus. This will serve as the arena for the club events and theatre performances due to the current refurbishment of two traditional festival venues, Jyväskylä City Theatre and Jyväskylä Workers Club. For the theatre performances rising audience seating has had to be hired. With a diameter of 32 metres and a height of 12 metres the circus tent is, according to festival director Tanja Rasi, both a challenge and an opportunity. If the venue works, that will be just fantastic, and provide the audience with greater freedom. The semi-dark illumination will conjure a nostalgic atmosphere, and the fragrances of summer are a lot nearer.
Occupying centre stage this year will be Finncon-Animecon, an international event that is free and open to all which combines sci-fi and fantasy, Japanese manga and anime.
Rasi describes the event as a festival within a festival since the number of those wishing to participate has grown explosively in the space of ten years or so. The last time around some 5 500 people took part in the Finncon-Animecon sessions alone.
The number of enthusiasts has grown hugely thanks to international movies and the cartoon industry a real case of marginal to megatrend. The event appeals to young people and indisputably reinforces Finlands image as a modern society, Rasi emphasises. The event features an impressive line-up of international writers, journalists and critics. Set to appear are the renowned American science fiction author Joe Haldeman and the well-known anthologist and critic Ellen Datlow.
Also taking the stage will be the grand old lady of black music, Linda Tillery, a singer who does full justice to the gospel, soul and jazz traditions and above all to the music of Americas slaves. According to Rasi her alto voice, compared by many to Aretha Franklin and Mahalia Jackson, has been in demand ever since Tillery last appeared at Jyväskylä Arts Festival in 2002.
Petäjävesi Churchs idiosyncratic statue of St Christopher has acquired its own cantata, which will be performed for the first time on Saturday of the festival week at Petäjävesi Old Church. The cantata was written by the German playwright Manfred Kargea and composed by the Finn Toni Edelman who studied under Kargea. The touching story of a young womans last journey is dedicated to the church and the individuals who built it.
Petäjävesi Old Church is a real attraction in itself. The Old Church was built in the years 17631765 under the supervision of master builder Jaakko Klemetinpoika Leppänen. In 1994 Petäjävesi Old Church gained inclusion on the UNESCO world heritage site list. This Lutheran country church built of logs is a wonderful example of an architectural tradition unique to eastern Scandinavia.
This year the festivals summer clubs offer music ranging from salsa and tango to jazz. One of the top acts is the Cuban band Septeto Nacional. Among the Finnish contributions to the club programme are veteran musician Tuomari Nurmio and Kongotien Orkesteri, an ensemble with a new take on Finnish tango.
Physical theatre, a staple of the festival programme for many years now, is also on offer as the Queen of Mime, Nola Rae, makes a welcome return to Jyväskylä accompanied by Swedens Lasse Åkerlund. In addition to a hugely entertaining murder mystery presented by Berlins masked theatre makers Familie Flöz, festival-goers will also have an opportunity to see the Finnish contemporary circus group MedAndraOrd, who offer theatre embellished with dance, live music and storytelling.
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JYVÄSKYLÄ ARTS FESTIVAL 10.15.7. Jyväskylä Arts Festival is a warm-spirited urban festival that offers concerts, non-verbal theatre, seminars, clubs, a childrens programme, free events and even instruction. The artists appearing at this week-long cultural festival are top-flight performers from stages in Finland and around the world.
Photo (above): Finnish contemporary circus group MedAndraOrd offers theatre embellished with dance, live music and storytelling.
Photos 2 and 3(below): Paco Peña
One of the biggest international names at this years festival is flamenco virtuoso Paco Peña, who is scheduled to perform on the Saturday and Sunday. He will be making his first visit to Finland. The Spanish guitar legend will appear with the world-famous ten-member Flamenco Dance Company. The line-up will perform a work premiered a year ago in London that explores deep into Arab and Spanish folklore as well as gypsy music.
In prospect is a bold helping of flamenco, a group of artists renowned for cherishing the traditions of flamenco art, Rasi explains.
By Viivi Virtanen Photos by Jyväskylä Arts Festival