Sastamala Gregoriana, Finland’s largest early music festival, begins on Wednesday for the 29th time, said a press release.
This year marks the conclusion of the festival’s six-year thematic series Cities on Water, with the 2025 theme London – Music on the Water.
Over five days, the festival presents 20 concerts and side events across Sastamala’s historic venues.
The festival will open with Sabbatum, a concert by the Estonian ensemble Rondellus, where the music of Black Sabbath meets medieval instruments and Latin lyrics.
The programme features works by composers such as Handel, Purcell, Dowland, Tallis and Byrd, performed by both international stars and leading Finnish early music artists.
International guests include the vocal ensemble Siglo de Oro (UK), soprano Elisabeth Hetherington (CA), the period ensemble Postscript (NL), tenor David Munderloh (US), and lutenist Julian Behr (DE).
Finnish performers include Tuuli Lindeberg, Jussi Lehtipuu, Elina Mustonen, Teppo Lampela, Chamber Choir Utopia, Ilkka Eronen and Pirkanmaan Barokki.
The festival week also includes a meditative concert, baroque brunch, musical city walk, family event, shuttle buses from Tampere, and two English-style dinners at Tyrvään Pappila.
The festival will end on Sunday with concert, AMEN! Handel’s Messiah, conducted by long-time musical director Michael Fields in his farewell performance, the press release added.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
