© Museovirasto

PERFORMERS:
Tommi Hakala, baritone
Kristian Attila, piano
Juhani Koivisto, narrator

DURATION:
Approx. 90 minutes, no intermission

TICKETS
€15–35 + service charges (from €1.5 at www.lippu.fi)

INTRODUCTION:
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.