defunensemble
Ensemble for New Music Tallinn
Ke Ma
Eveliina Sumelius
Helga Karen
The Espoo Museum of Modern Art (EMMA) has some amusing rooms highlighting the most varied ways in which a keyboard can be used. Pianist Helga Karen operates with electric-guitar samples while playing works by Munterdorf and Magalhaes on a piano frame. Ke Ma will examine Chinese influences in Western compositions and Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom will give the first performance of a new work for piano by Veli-Matti Puumala. The evening will culminate in the Finnish premiere of Rundfunk – a work by Enno Poppe that has achieved cult status – in which members of the defunensemble, the Tallinn New Music Ensemble and musicians invited by PianoEspoo will play nine synthesisers.
Free admission
Schedule:
17.00
Brigitta Muntendorf (b. 1982): Public Privacy #2
Helga Karen, sampler
Anders Pohjola, electronics
17.15
Veli-Matti Puumala (s. 1965): Hommages Fugitifs IIIb, Second Book of Etudes (2022-23), WORLD PREMIERE
No. 7 Rendez-vous avec Claude
(Pour les sonorités opposées...)
No. 8 Chanson de Guillaume
(Pour la main gauche...)
No. 9 Etwas verrückter, bitte, Herr Jukkt
(Rapidité...)
No. 10 Oro for Vanja
(Repetitions...)
No. 11 mit Ludwig weiter in die Ferne
(Trills...)
No. 12 Toivo
(Tremolos...)
Eveliina Sumelius, piano
17.30
Michelle Agnes Magalhaes (b. 1979): Mobile
Helga Karen, piano
18.00
Jack Body: Parts 2. ja 3. from Five Melodies
Alexina Louie: Memories in an Ancient Garden from the Scenes from a Jade Terrace
Long Zhou: Pianogongs
Ke Ma, piano
18.20
Brigitta Muntendorf (b. 1982): Public Privacy #2
Helga Karen, sampler
Anders Pohjola, electronics
18.40
Michelle Agnes Magalhaes (b. 1979): Mobile
18.50
Veli-Matti Puumala (s. 1965): Hommages Fugitifs IIIb, Second Book of Etudes (2022-23),
Eveliina Sumelius, piano
19.00
Enno Poppe (b. 1969): Rundfunk for nine synthesizers
defunensemble & ENMT
Please note, that Rundfunk is performed after the closing time of the museum at 7pm. Please arrive early.
Coproction with EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art
Supported by Embassy of Estonia in Helsinki
Founded in 2012, Ensemble for New Music Tallinn (ENMT) is internationally the most active Estonian contemporary music ensemble, being an important platform for experiencing new music and expanding the possibilities for composers. ENMT’s musical mission is to enrich both local and international cultural life. In addition to commissioning new works, ENMT is often playing the Estonian premier of central contemporary music pieces. The ensemble collaborates with Estonian and European music festivals, and has been organizing a festival dedicated to alternative intonations, Sound Plasma, both in Tallinn and in Berlin since 2017. The artistic director of the ensemble is composer and conductor Arash Yazdani.
Award winning pianist Ke Ma debuted at Wigmore Hall under the auspices of the Kirckman Concert Society in 2017. She has given concerts across the UK, China, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary and the US. Highlights have included appearances with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. During 2020, Ke Ma appeared as soloists at the Gold Medal competition with Guildhall Symphony Orchestra. She has performed at the prestigious York Minster as the first Chinese pianist ever. As a committed chamber musician Ke Ma has undertaken a Tunnell Trust Award tour of Scotland. She is currently pursuing her Doctoral studies at Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Pianist Helga Karen has specialized in performance of classical contemporary music. She has performed on new music festivals such as Lucerne Festival, SoundScape, Musica Nova, ISA2015, and Stockhausen Courses and Concerts. Ms. Karen has premiered works for both piano solo and chamber ensembles. She is a member of new music Earth Ears Ensemble. Ms. Karen has worked with composers including Helmut Lachenmann and Rebecca Saunders. She has had organizational roles such as curator of Daniel Barenboim’s educational program for children and youth and as co-producer for the Lucerne Festival Forward. Currently she is a doctoral student at the Sibelius Academy working on her research project exploring Stockhausen's piano piece.
Formed in 2009, defunensemble quickly established itself as one of the leading contemporary music groups in Finland. The ensemble's vigorous mission is to systematically delve into the world of electroacoustic music. Besides playing premieres, the ensemble frequently commissions new works. Its concerts are highly innovative, blending different sub-genres of the electroacoustic persuasion with an unprecedented street credibility. The musicians and sound designers are among leading personalities of the Finnish contemporary music scene. After successfully appearing the major festivals in Finland, the ensemble is, together with Sami Klemola as artistic director, gaining international recognition.
Pianist Eveliina Sumelius-Lindblom works extensively in the Finnish music scene as a performing artist, researcher and pedagogue as well as in various advisory positions. In her doctoral degree, Sumelius-Lindblom specialized on aesthetic peculiarities of the 1920’s French Modernism and the research-based methodological thinking of the music performer. Sumelius-Lindblom has worked closely with contemporary Finnish composer Seppo Pohjola, premiering more than a dozen of his works. Sumelius-Lindblom has participated in concert projects focusing on piano etudes by György Ligeti and Paavo Heininen. Her second solo album “Silent Revolution” featuring solo piano music by Messiaen, Murail, and Melartin was released in spring 2023.