Finn finds Inner Voices

Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is fresh from a conversation with school kids about classical music. The dialogue is one aspect of music and performance that inspires the celebrated musician who is in Australia as guest director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra for its Inner Voices tour.

"Most musicians who perform in concert halls seem to expect the world to come to us all of the time ... because we play music from a certain period," Kuusisto explains. "We have to be ready and willing to reach out to other people and offer others what we have to give."

Kuusisto brings to Australia an impressive performance history which includes an association with London, Scottish and Irish chamber orchestras, the Britten Sinfonia and stints as the artistic director of Finland's Lake Tuusula Chamber Music Festival. In 1995, Kuusisto was the first Finn to win the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition. One of the world's top three violin competitions, it is held every five years in recognition of the composer's musical legacy in his homeland, Finland, and worldwide.

Kuusisto is known for his diverse tastes which have seen him embrace classical music as well as folk, electronic, jazz, rock and improvisional styles. He says while he has fostered diversity in his musical taste, he realises that certain genres are not for all. "(Classical) music is not for everyone. It's just in the same way some people like Rembrandt and some people like Andy Warhol," he says.

Performing with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, including a stint as guest director in the past, means Kuusisto knows exactly what to expect on this visit Down Under. He says he loves the opportunity to get into the rehearsal room with the orchestra and this time will lead the group in a Finnish inspired program. "It's a great collection of people who are really wonderful people and great musicians," he says. Kuusisto has arranged Sibelius' Voices Intimae for the performance. The orchestra will also play Bach's Violin Concerto No. 2 in E and the Brandenberg Concerto No. 3 and premiere Alakotila's Finnish Folksong Suite for Strings. Kuusisto says initially he had reservations about arranging and playing a Sibelius piece with the chamber orchestra. "That idea came from the orchestra and I was a little bit reluctant at first," he says. "But if there's one orchestra that can play the personality and intimacy of the piece in a large venue, then this is the orchestra."
KILMENY ADIE, ILLAWARRA MERCURY