Tuuli Takala, soprano
Tuula Hällström, piano 

Soprano Tuuli Takala and pianist Tuula Hällström present a narrational programme describing a child’s dream world. In the atmosphere of moonlit night of summer evening, we walk into cradling a child and into child’s own imaginative dream world. The dreamworld changes from wild to calm all the way back to the sweet and peaceful sleep. We are guided into these moods by the delightful lieds of Aarre Merikanto, Richard Strauss and Sergei Rachmaninov and Johannes Brahms’s Lieds from the song series 15 Volks-Kinderlieder. The Francis Poulenc’s song series Quatre chansons pour enfants is also included, with its musical language ranging from romantic and emotional to impressionistic and playful.  

Over the past decade, the luminous and captivating soprano Tuuli Takala has become one of the brightest Finnish sopranos internationally. Tuula Hällström is one of Finland’s most experienced pianists specialising in lied. She collaborates actively with the most successful singers and is a sought-after pianist in singing competitions, opera productions and singing master classes. With a positive and warm energy, the duo will perform a concert at the Organ Night and Aria Festival full of sensibility, expressiveness and wonderful virtuosity. 

Duration 60 min, no intermission
Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE will broadcast the concert

Espoo Cathedral
Kirkkopuisto 5, Espoo

Program

Aarre Merikanto: Kuutamolla, Op.16 No. 4

Johannes Brahms: Sommerabend, Op.84 No. 1
Mondnacht, W. 21 

Sergei Rachmaninov: V molchan’i nochi taynoy / In the silence of the secret night Op.4 No.3
Ditya! Kak tsvetok ty prekrasna / Child! You are beautiful as a flower Op.8 No. 2 

Ilmari Hannikainen: Ilta, Op.4 No. 3 

Aarre Merikanto: Keinutan kaikua, Op.16 No. 3
Salo kuutamolla (W. Piha) 

Richard Strauss: Säusle, liebe Myrthe, Op.68 No. 3

Johannes Brahms: Laulusarjasta 15 Volks-Kinderlieder / W.31:
Die Nachtigall, No. 2
Die Henne, No. 3
Marienwürmchen, No. 13
Der Jäger in der Walde, No. 9

Francis Poulenc: Laulusarjasta Quatre chansons pour enfants / FP75:
Nous voulons une petite soeur, No. 1
Monsieur Sans-souci, No. 4 
Laulusarjasta: La Courte Paille / FP178:
Le carafon, No. 6
La reine de coeur, No. 3
Ba, be, bi, bo, bu, No. 4
Quelle aventure! No. 2 

Claude Debussy: Clair de lune / Suite Bergamasque L 75: III (Tuula Hällström, piano)

Richard Strauss: Ständchen, Op.17 No. 2
Traum durch die Dämmerung, Op.29 No. 1 

Sergei Rachmaninov: Oni otvechali / They answered, Op.21 No. 4
Zdes’ khorosho / How fair this spot,  Op.21 No. 7 

Edvard Grieg: Ein Traum, Op.48 No. 6