South Australia’s renowned performance venue UKARIA Cultural Centre has announced its lineup for 2024. This year’s UKARIA 24 program sees five concerts hosted from 18–20 October. It has been curated by the acclaimed Finnish pianist and composer Olli Mustonen. 

UKARIA 24 will feature the first ever Australian performances of five international musicians – tenor Robin Tritschler, flautist Janne Thomsen, guitarist Ismo Eskelinen, violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière and violist Sào Soulez Larivière. The program also sees the return of two UKARIA favourites, violinist Kristian Winther and ACO cellist Timo-Veikko Valve.

Olli Mustonen. Photo © Frank Schinski

“I have always felt at home in Australia, and I have felt a tremendously inspiring connection with many Australian musicians,” said Mustonen. “It has been a particular pleasure planning these programs for the 2024 edition of UKARIA 24.”

The first concert, Northern Lights, is a showcase of Nordic music. Grieg’s String Quartet No. 1 and Nineteen Norwegian Folk Songs both draw upon the music of Mustonen’s homeland, as does his own Minä elän and Taivaanvalot.

The second concert, Canopy of Stars, has Mustonen perform in two of his own works as part of a duo – in Sonata for Violin and Piano with Winther, and in Tähtitarha with Janne Thomsen. The program also features William Walton’s Anon in Love and Serenades of the Unicorn, composed by Mustonen’s teacher and mentor, Einojuhani Rautavaara.

To the Distant Beloved, taking place on the Saturday night, is a celebration of the works of Beethoven through a selection of sonatas, trios and songs from his late career.

UKARIA. Photo supplied.

“I have had the privilege to spend such a large portion of my life very close to [Beethoven]’s music,” said Mustonen. “His influence on my own life has been tremendous, and I can certainly say that without his music I wouldn’t be the same person that I am now.”

Opening the morning of 20 October is a selection of works spotlighting both Janne Thomsen’s flute and Ismo Eskelinen’s guitar. Works by Narváez, Paganini, Mudarra and Mustonen (the concert’s title work Anderseniana, was inspired by the solo talents of Thomsen) are featured in a program concluded by Rossini’s William Tell Overture.

The final concert of the weekend is Creation of the World, borrowing its title from its opening work by Darius Milhaud. Next to Martinů’s Sonata for Flute and Piano, Mustonen will lead an ensemble in his own Piano Quintet, while his Septour Champêtre brings a close to the program on the Sunday afternoon.

“It’s a great honour to have such an exceptional artist curate our flagship event,” said CEO of UKARIA Alison Beare. “To hear him perform and conduct some of his most celebrated compositions with artists who are dear to him is a rare and special privilege.”

More about UKARIA 24 can be found here.