The organ chamber music work ‘Just before Nightfall’ by composer Olli Kortekangas will have its premiere in the Organo hall of the Musiikkitalo on Saturday, August 12, 2023, performed by the vocal group TriAngel and organist Jan Lehtola. The second performance will be heard the day after the premiere concert at the Closing concert of the Lahti Organ Festival, Sunday, August 13, 2023, at the Lahti Church of the Cross.

‘Just before Nightfall’ is a chamber music work for organ and three soloists by composer Olli Kortekangas and poet Pia Perkiö. The work could be defined – as the name suggests – as evening music. The piece is meditative in nature and its text boldly tackles the ultimate questions of our existence, yet inclusive and non-confessional. Even though the evening music, vespers, is especially related to the Christian tradition, the text of the work Just before Nightfall is universal and spiritual, without referring to any religious denomination.

Kaija Saariaho, who passed away in June, will be remembered at the Organo concert at Musiikkitalo. Aurora Ikävalko and Jan Lehtola will perform Saariaho’s three preludes for soprano and organ. Johann Sebastian Bach was also of great importance to Kaija Saariaho. Saariaho has said that Bach was her role model in everything she composed.

Program at Musiikkitalo Organo 12.8.2023

Kaija Saariaho (1952-2023)
Three preludes for soprano and organ (1981)
Aurora Ikävalko, soprano and Jan Lehtola, organ

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Praeludium in Es, BWV 552/1
Kyrie, Gott Vater, BWV 669
    Christe, aller Welt Trost, BWV 670
    Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, BWV 671
    Fuga in Es, BWV 552/2
Jan Lehtola, organ

Olli Kortekangas (säv), Pia Perkiö (san.) PREMIERE
JUST BEFORE NIGHTFALL
Vocal group TriAngel 
Jan Lehtola, organ

Concert organizer: Musiikkitalo Organ Association  www.urutsoimaan.fi 
Production: Teatro Productions