Lahti Organ Festival thanks you for the past festival and welcomes everyone to the 53rd Lahti Organ festival 4-10 August 2025!

MONDAY AUG 5th at 1 p.m.

Lahti Market Place, Vapaudenkatu 7, Lahti

Grand opening of Lahti Organ Festival 2024

Sing-along and The 3rd Organ Pipe Precision Throw World Championships

Aurora Ikävalko, presenter and lead singer

ROYAL BRASS:
Pertti Nieminen
Kai Kovanen
Jorma Nieminen
Eero Seesvaara
Raimo Manninen

Free entry

MONDAY AUG 5th at 7 p.m.

Sibelius Hall, Ankkurikatu 7, Lahti

La Vie, l'Amour, la Mort

- songs about life, love and death

Jorma Uotinen, song

Miikka Kallio, organ

Petri Ikkelä, bandoneon

Helena Plathán, cello

Ilkka Joronen, piano

Legendary dance artist, choreographer, artistic director, and TV star Jorma Uotinen is nowadays also a very popular interpreter of songs. With his band, his velvety voice and unique interpretation take the audience to Paris one moment, and to South America the next. The band includes Miikka Kallio on organ, Petri Ikkelä on bandoneon/accordion/arrangements, Helena Plathan on cello, and Ilkka Joronen on piano. A star concert of organ music, absolutely!

TUESDAY AUG 6th at 7 p.m.

Mukkula church, Kilpiäistentie 1, Lahti

Vocal ensemble Cantus Alaudae

Debra Gomez-Tapio, direct
Ilpo Laspas, organ

SPANISH SOUL MASS AND VIRTUOSIC ORGANS

The main piece of the concert is the soul mass from the early 17th century by the Spanish Renaissance master Thomas Luis de Victoria; a work widely regarded as one of the most magnificent vocal compositions of the Renaissance era. Surrounding the different parts of the mass are the contemplative and virtuosic organ solos by organist Ilpo Laspas, also from the same Iberian period. Laspas is a versatile keyboardist and one of the most successful young Finnish organists. The a cappella Requiem mass is sung by a 6-voice professional vocal ensemble Cantus Alaudae. Its members are Kaisa Kelloniemi, soprano, Sanna Kola, mezzo-soprano, Elina Aho-Kuusama, alto, Mats Lillhannus, tenor, Lauri Solin, baritone, and Pekka Alonen, bass. The ensemble is conducted by early music expert Debra Gomez-Tapio.

WEDNESDAY AUG 7th at 2 p.m.

Lahti Historical Museum, Kartanonkatu 1, Lahti

Oskar Merikanto 100 years -lied concert

Jussi Merikanto, bass baritone

Asta Onnila, piano

Oskar Merikanto, organist, pianist, composer, and conductor, was born in Helsinki in 1868 and passed away in Oitti in 1924, being one of the most beloved Finnish composers. Merikanto is especially known for his solo songs and piano pieces. In this concert, we will hear precisely those most familiar and beloved songs and piano pieces: “The Weeping Flute,” “Little Nugget of Gold,” “Anniina,” and “Waltz of a Summer Night!” At the same time, there is an opportunity to explore the exhibition at the Historical Museum.

THURSDAY AUG 8th at 7 p.m.

Sibelius Hall, Ankkurikatu 7, Lahti

Organ and circus fun

Michał Szostak, organ

Atte Kilpinen, ballet dancer

Circus performers:

Milja Jaskari
Lukas Peurala
Ada Sainio
Salla Santanen
Mika Seppälä

Organ + Ballet / Circus Artists! This kind of combination is extremely rare, so don’t miss it at the Lahti Organ Festival! Internationally acclaimed organist from Poland, Doctor of Music Michał Szostak, will dust off the organ pipes of the Sibelius Hall as he accompanies one of the most renowned contemporary Finnish ballet dancers, Atte Kilpinen! Atte Kilpinen has choreographed a performance to Beethoven’s symphony. Joining Michał Szostak on stage will be top Finnish circus artists Salla Santanen, Mika Seppälä, Milja Jaskari, Ada Sainio, and Lukas Peurala, who will astonish the audience with their breathtaking skills. The organ was originally a circus instrument… This is something you will rarely see and hear!

FRIDAY AUG 9th at 11 a.m.

Lahti Academy of Music, Kalevi Aho hall, Hämeenkatu 4, Lahti (Lahden Musiikkiopisto, Kalevi Aho -sali)

Studia Generalia Lecture

Matti Huttunen

Emeritus Professor, Sibelius Academy

Public Lecture Topic: “The Movement of Music”

Performance by the students of the Lahti Music School.

In collaboration with the Lahti Music School.

Free entry

FRIDAY AUG 9th at 7 p.m.

Vaahterasali, Aleksanterinkatu 26, Lahti

The silent film

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Esa Toivola, digital organ

In cooperation with Reel Lahti.

The silent film “The Phantom of the Opera,” directed by Rupert Julian, is a classic American horror film from 1925. It is based on Gaston Leroux’s novel “The Phantom of the Opera.” The film premiered on September 6, 1925, and was a tremendous success.

In this performance, the music will be improvised by Esa Toivola, the organist of Tampere Cathedral. Since it is an improvisation, the exact same music will never be heard again!