Music Festivals in Scandinavia
Jazz, Classical, Opera in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark
Jun 1, 2009
Seniors and others headed for northern Europe during the summer months can hear the sound of music of all kinds throughout Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Top Finnish Music Events
Finland is home to the Helsinki Festival from Aug. 13-30, 2009, featuring not just music but dance, film, theater, circus acts and every other kind of performance. The festival begins with legendary composer and conductor Pierre Boulez and his French Ensemble Intercontemporain, led by Music Director Susanna Mälkki. In addition, the Finnish music icon Esa-Pekka Salonen, now principal conductor of London’s Philharmonia Orchestra, brings that illustrious group to Helsinki, while another international Finnish star, Osmo Vänskä, conducts the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
July is the month the Pori Jazz Festival, now well into its forth decade, brings internationally acclaimed jazz, soul and world-music performers to venues throughout the town, which is a three-hour drive northeast of Helsinki.
Sounds of Summer Nights in Sweden
There are dozens of music events large and small throughout Sweden. Among them: Opera på Skäret, founded in 2004 and performed in a former storehouse of a saw mill. It is located on the shore of Lake Ljusnaren in Bergslagen, a three-hour drive north of Stockholm. The opera season runs from late June through late August.
Denmark – Beyond Rock
For rock ‘n’ roll fans, Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, held since 1971 in early July the town of Roskilde, a 35-minute drive from Copenhagen, is the largest North European culture and music festival. Some of the biggest names in entertainment from the U.S.and elsewhere are scheduled to appear.
Jazz fans look forward to the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, held July 3 through July 12, 2009. There are also numerous classical music events in Denmark throughout June, July and August, including a free open-air event August 15 at Rosenborg Palace in Copenhagen featuring the Royal Danish Opera, Ballet and Orchestra ensembles.
Norway’s Rooftop Concerts
The big summer music news in Norway is about concerts on the sloping roof of the spectacular new Oslo Opera House, which opened in April 2008 to rave reviews. In early August, the Oslo Jazz Festival stages a week of concerts on the roof, where the stage will be placed by the water’s edge and seating for 500 will be available.
In addition, Norway features chamber music summer festivals in Risør and Stavanger. The Trondheim Chamber Music Festival offers an international competition that takes place during the festival in late September.
To sum up, there is something for every music lover during the summer months in Scandinavia.
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