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24. - 31.7.2010
Crusell
MUSIC FESTIVAL
UUSIKAUPUNKI FINLAND
The Crusell Week, dedicated to woodwind instruments, is held in Uusikaupunki, 24.-31.7.2010, for the 29th time. This year Helsinki Chamber Orchestra pays a visit to the festival. The orchestra is conducted by Okko Kamu. Other domestic Crusell Week artists include e.g. Mikael Helasvuo (flute), Anni Haapaniemi (oboe), Asko Heiskanen and Tuulia Ylönen (clarinet), Jussi Särkkä and Otto Virtanen (bassoon), Tommi Viertonen (French horn), NHQ (string quartet), Ensemble Schrat (Wind Quintet), Ensemble of the Finnish Baroque Orchestra, Monica Groop (mezzo-soprano), Rajaton (Six-voice a cappella ensemble), Iiro Rantala New Trio etc. Foreign artists include Andrea Lieberknecht (flute), Stefan Schilli (oboe), Yehuda Gilad (clarinet), Valentin Uryupin (clarinet), Dag Jensen (bassoon) to mention but a few.
The Night of the Lanterns, an atmospheric musical picnic for the whole family, and Party Night play their own important role in the versatile program of the festival. Children will also receive some quality entertainment during Crusell Week.
Crusell Week’s Artistic Director is Jussi Särkkä.
Crusell Week office: Crusell Week, Rauhankatu 10, 23500 Uusikaupunki, Finland
Phone: +358-2-8451 5302
Fax: +358-2- 841 2887
E-mail: kulttuuritoimisto@uusikaupunki.fi
Ticket sale:
Uusikaupunki Tourist Office/Lippupalvelu
Rauhankatu 10, 23500 Uusikaupunki
Tel. +358-2-8451 5443
and Lippupalvelu offices across the country.
Artistic Director Jussi Särkkä
Gsm. +358-50-3378566
firstname.surname@kolumbus.fi
(excluding possible Scandinavic symbols)
Executive Director Rauno Melos
Tel. +358-2-8451 5302
Fax. +358-2-841 2887
Gsm. +358-50-531 8498
firstname.surname@uusikaupunki.fi
(excluding possible Scandinavic symbols)
This important event dedicated to woodwind music is arranged annually in the idyllic western coastal town of Uusikaupunki. Pride of having a place in the versatile concert programme goes to leading Finnish and foreign woodwind artists.
BERNHARD HENRIK CRUSELL
Bernhard Henrik Crusell was born on the 15th of October 1775 in Uusikaupunki where he also spent the first eight years of his life in a small house in the street Myllykatu. He got his first touch with music already at the age of four when he ran away from home to listen to his neighbour playing the flute.
When he and his family moved to Nurmijärvi, Crusell met Henrik Westberg, a son of the clarinetist who taught him to play the clarinet and, reciprocally, Crusell him to read and write. Captain Armfelt, living in the neighbourhood, noticed the musical talent of Crusell and took him to Wiaborg in 1788 where he was employed as a musician in the Lifeguard. In 1791 Crusell moved with Major Wallenstjerna to Stockholm where he seriously started his music studies. In 1798 Crusell studied music in Berlin where he also gave some concerts. Next year, however, he returned to Stockholm and married Anna Klemming. In 1801 Crusell gave concerts in Helsinki, Turku and St. Petersburg. After that, though, he never returned to Finland again.
Later, Crusell also studied in Paris. At the turn of the century, Crusell was especially interested in his own instrument, the clarinet, and so he produced three clarinet concertos. Subsequently he concentrated more on vocalic music.
In 1818 Crusell was nominated the musical leader of the Royal Lifeguard in Stockholm. With his concert income as a base he founded a fund to help the widows and orphans of musicians.
In the 1820's Crusell met Karl Maria von Weber who encouraged him to compose an opera. As a result, in 1824 he finished the opera "A Little Bond-Woman" or "Ali Baba" which is the first Finnish opera. Crusell's health had gradually weakened and in 1833 he resigned from his vacancy as the musical leader. Before his death, on the 28th of July 1838, he received the medal of honour from the Swedish Academy.
The clarinet concertos are regarded as Crusell’s major works. His production was characterised by large-scale instrumental music where his talent is most clearly visible. The first Crusell Week was arranged in Uusikaupunki in 1982.
Uusikaupunki Cultural Services Office
Address: Crusell Week, Rauhankatu 10, 23500 Uusikaupunki, Finland
Sivu päivitetty 28.1.2010 |
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