Performing the Political Festival 2026

Introduction

The festival presents artistic and pedagogical work developed within the Performing the Political research project and through the pre-festival dialogue series.

The festival offers:

• Live performances by students, alumni, and guest artists
• Conversations and reflection spaces
• Artistic interventions developed during the research project
• Encounters between musicians, educators, researchers, and the public
  

Programme

Children’s programme at Alalämpiö

09:30 & 10:30 Travelling with the Shoemaker – Interactive folk music performance for children
Ella Harju (accordion, voice); Touko Kentala (violin, voice); Laura Lehto (kantele, voice); Erja Pätsi (violin, jouhikko, jaw harp, voice)

14:00 – 15:00 Soundwalk: Intersections – designed by Jekaterina Viltšenko
An exploration of the urban soundscape through recordings captured in spaces we can see, yet whose sounds are often hidden behind glass, concrete, or other thresholds.
The walk begins and ends at Agora and takes place outdoors around Oodi, Musiikkitalo, Sanomatalo, and Kansalaistori.
Please note: Participants will need a mobile device (Android/iOS), the Echoes app and headphones. Please dress for the weather and bring an umbrella if needed. A discussion will follow.

Performing the Political Etkot

Agora 15:00 – 17:00

Order of appearance:

• Two Black Churches (Shawn E. Okpebholo) – Gabriel Kivivuori (voice); Keval Shah (piano)
• Improvised ambient music – Juho Tuomainen (electric guitar)
• Queer folk songs – Havu & Kuisma
• Making Decisions through Body Percussion (workshop) – Alan da Silva
• HUE-MAN (Colours of the Globe) – composed and performed by Omotola Adeshina

Blackbox 18:00 – 22:00

Part I 18:00 – 19:50

Order of Appearance:

• Performing the Political – documentary by Ville Tanttu
• Free of Speech: Air and the Boundaries of Voice – Zimu Wang (accordion)
• “Come scoglio” (Fiordiligi) from Così fan tutte (W. A. Mozart) – Iida Nummela (soprano); Ville Pääkkönen (piano)
• Imaginary Style Exercise: Experimental Harmony and Counterpoint in Alternative Social Histories – Niilo Tarnanen; Erika Härö
• Movements from Tafelmusik, Part II, TWV 43:d1 (G. Ph. Telemann) – Soniori Ensemble, coached by Minna Kangas
• (Heidi Kajander, flute; Harri Savolainen, recorder; Antti Ruuskanen, violin; Annika Helasvuo, cello; Kuisma Savisalo, harpsichord)
• Cinzas da floresta (Ashes of the Forest) – Loica & Transcultural Ensemble
• Composer interviews with Kalevi Aho, Lara Poe, Lauri Supponen, Lotta Wennäkoski – documentary by Riikka Talvitie and composition students
• Access Amplified Collective – Sami Kekäläinen (voice); Apeal Paudel (sarod, voice); Aizhan Sultan (voice); Nathan Riki Thomson (double bass)

Intermission 19:50 – 20:10

Part II 20:10 – 22:00

Order of Appearance:

• Music and War – documentary by Ville Tanttu (Lukas Stasevskij)
• Footsteps in an Empty Room (Uno Vesje) & Trois morceaux (Lili Boulanger, arr. Jacqueline Pollauf) – Saara Valjakka (harp)
• Scenes from The Three Fates: A Game of Change (Seymour Barab); Sesto’s aria from Giulio Cesare (G. F. Händel); Grounded: The Blue (Jeanine Tesori); I’m Told I’m a Citizen (Victoria Bond) – Ilmi Gutzeit-Knudsen; Sofia Seppänen; Aino Spence (voice); Ville Pääkkönen (piano)
  (Stage direction: Juulia Tapola)
• Electroacoustic improvisation – Trio Kauniskangas / Mannermaa / Mureddu
• Taiwania Trio – Kiwa Takishusungan (nose flute, piano, vocals); Huang Tai Yuan (violin); Zuiko / Ni Jui Hsin (tsugaru shamisen)
• Intimate Sounds: Musicians, Social Movements, and the Journey through Exile – documentary by Mohammad Tavazonizadeh
• Partytuuri Orchestra

Read more about the Performing the political research project