Organ Night & Aria: Eternal Youth - the Life and Songs of Toivo Kuula
Time
9.7.2026 EET/EESTThu 20.00–21.15 EET/EESTLocation
Espoo
See location on the map(external link, opens in a new window)Olari Church Rälssitilankuja 1 Espoo, Uusimaa, 02200 Finland
Target audience
No age limit
Languages
Finnish, Swedish, English
Price
- 35 Standard ticket
- 32 Pensioner
- 15 Student, child
Buy ticket(external link, opens in a new window)
Free entry with Kaikukortti
Organizer
Urkuyö ja Aaria
Additional information
urkuyofestival.fi(external link, opens in a new window)Tommi Hakala, baritone
Kristian Attila, piano
Juhani Koivisto, narrator
A passionate desire to become a composer, a rise to the forefront of Finnish music, a devastating love story and a tragic death – Eternal Youth tells the story of Toivo Kuula through words and music. Rising from modest beginnings, Kuula became a composer regarded as the successor to Sibelius. His great love for the singer Alma Silventoinen was overshadowed by an unhappy early marriage. When they finally found one another, war broke out, and in its final turmoil Kuula was killed.
Interwoven with the narrative, thirteen of Kuula’s most moving songs illuminate the lives of Toivo and Alma, while the music gains new shades of meaning through its connection to their story.
The performers are acclaimed interpreters of Kuula’s life and songs. Baritone Tommi Hakala and pianist Kristian Attila have recorded and performed Kuula’s works extensively, and Juhani Koivisto is the author of a comprehensive biography of Kuula and the creator of this concert drama.
PROGRAM:
1. Lyö, sydän! (Antti Rytkönen) 1906
2. Aamulaulu (Eino Leino) 1905
3. Sinipiika (V.A. Koskenniemi) 1912
4. Tuijotin tulehen kauan (Eino Leino) 1907
5. Suutelo (Aarni Kouta) 1907-1908
6. Tuuli se taivutti koivun larvan (trad) 1910
7. Syystunnelma (Eino Leino) 1904
8. Jääkukkia (V. A. Koskenniemi) 1913
9. Kesäyö kirkkomaalla (V. A. Koskenniemi) 1907
10. Purjein kuutamolla (Kalle Vuokoski) 1917, levytys Alma Kuula 1937
11. Tule armaani (V. A. Koskenniemi) 1915
12. Lauantai-ilta (Lauri Pohjanpää) 1913
13. Epilogi (V. A. Koskenniemi) 1907
DURATION:
Approx. 90 minutes, no intermission