Finland's further fields

I didn't particularly know what to expect, but with one past and one current and renowned member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra I had high hopes.  Suffice to say they were fulfilled.  This was called VIULUT and the performers were both violin or viola and they were both of Finnish extraction, presumably Finnish citizens.  It was held at the Finnish Embassy, so comfy and a fairly small audience.  Quite intimate, always something special.  Erkki Veltheim seemed to gather or direct the event, indulging in all manner of alternative viola and violin, even e-violin, playing, with a pedal board worthy of a rock guitarist, sometimes improvising to his own recorded backings.  And it was fascinating, tuneful, capable improv.  I could hear some jazz lines, but mostly a form of melodic classical improvisation perhaps over moving chordal structures, as famed players of the past could.  Not just adventurous noise.  But he was no slouch in the standard repertoire, occasionally backing Satu Vanska's voice for a Finnish tradition song (translation: There is my sweetheart) or playing with Satu for several pieces from Finnish composers or just sitting while she blew our minds with various cadenzas.  There was one Sibelius, of course, as required, but mostly, I guess, more modern.   Satu was just disarming, playing with such fluency, ease and clarity that had me chuckling at times at the rapid fire scales of immense clarity or the purposeful readings.  But all round this was Intriguing and adventurous and perhaps homely and always  hugely capable  Loved this one.

Satu Vanska (violin, voice) performed with Erkki Veltheim (violin, viola, electronics) at the Finnish Embassy for CIMF.