Finlandia Foundation ® National

Inspiring, celebrating and connecting the Finnish-American community since 1953

Jussi Makkonen, cello & Nazig Azezian, piano storybook, Makkonen and Azezian a multimedia program that includes commissioned a new work by videos filmed for the concert. Jussi Makkonen Finnish composer Jonne Valtonen. Through music, video, sound Both books are illustrated by Katri and light, the all-encompassing Kirkkopelto and are available in multimedia experience transports & Nazig Azezian Finnish and English. the audience into the world that For more information about inspired Sibelius. His compelling the duo: compositions, the narration and sibeliusinspiration.com the visuals carry the audience to the Sibelius home, to the magical moss forest at dusk and to the top of inlandia Foundation National (FFN), the premier United States Tour Finland’s impressive Koli mountain in F network of Finnish-American organizations in 2019-2021 the midst of a thunderstorm. the United States, is proud to support the United On their current U.S. tour, The videos for the multimedia cellist Jussi Makkonen and pianist concert were filmed and directed States tour by Finnish cellist Jussi Makkonen and Nazig Azezian are presenting by Aira Vehaskari. The Sibelius pianist Nazig Azezian. three programs: pieces were arranged by Matti Sibelius Inspiration Makkonen. Finnish fashion designer hey are especially known for outstanding educational work in Mert Otsamo created the artists’ T their performances of works by introducing classical music to ibelius Inspiration had its performance costumes. Finland’s national composer, Jean young people. S acclaimed premiere at the The Blue Bird Sibelius, and have permission from Orpheum Theatre in New Orleans ussi Makkonen was seven when his family to perform arrangements in 2015 for the 150th anniversary of n February 2019 Makkonen he began playing the cello. He was made especially for the duo. J the composer’s birth, and it has been I and Azezian published the CD selected for the Sibelius Academy performed around the world more and children’s book, The Blue The musicians have been performing youth program, continued with his than 300 times. It is presented as a Bird, a story of love, jealousy and together since 2013, on stages university studies, and earned his traditional concert combining Jean forgiveness. Inspired by the story not only in Finland and the U.S., master’s in music. Further studies Sibelius’s music and narration, or as and characters, Finnish composer but across Europe and in Asia. include masterclasses, and he was a Jonne Valtonen composed Their concerts, music videos and member of the EU Youth Orchestra a piece for cellist recordings have reached hundreds and Gustav Mahler Orchestra. Jussi of thousands of listeners. They are Makkonen plays a Henry Jay cello also passionate about introducing from 1757. classical music to young audiences, Nazig Azezian began her piano and have performed in hundreds of studies at the age of eight. In 2007 schools in Finland, in many European she entered Sibelius Academy in countries and in the U.S. Helsinki, where she earned her akkonen began the narrative master’s in music. Additionally, Mschool concerts in 2010, which she has taken part in several piano have been attended by over 500,000 masterclasses. students. In the program the artists akkonen and Azezian have perform the music of Jean Sibelius received numerous music and, between the songs, tell stories M awards. In August 2017 their Sibelius- about the composer’s life and the themed Soiva Metsä (Melody Forest) featured compositions. Makkonen CD was the first Finnish chamber and Azezian also give lectures to music record to sell platinum. It university students about their work accompanies an illustrated children’s as international musicians. In 2019, book. In early 2019 they released a the performers were recognized second CD-book set, Lintu Sininen by Concert Center Finland for their (The Blue Bird). To accompany the Makkonen, pianist Nazig Azezian water in his music in a way that feels and string orchestra. Valtonen’s Finnish, yet universal. experience in composing both Inspired by forests, landscapes classical and game music makes and myths, Finnish composers The Blue Bird unique and fresh, and have created music that captures speaks to classical music lovers as nature and the roots of the country’s well as children. identity, the national epic Kalevala. t is a 30-minute piece in seven It is the translation of hundreds of I movements written for 17 string years-old poems that had been players. It may also be performed sung to pass along traditions with cello, piano, violin, viola and between generations. double bass, or by Makkonen and Finnish Landscape introduces the Azezian as a duo. most beautiful melodies written by The Blue Bird has been performed composers such as Jean Sibelius, by several orchestras in Finland. In Oskar Merikanto and Heino Kaski. recent years, the London Symphony Some of the pieces were arranged Orchestra and the for the first time in history for cello Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and piano, specifically for Makkonen have played Valtonen’s compositions and Azezian. and arrangements.

Finnish Landscape: Jewels For more information and to by Finnish Composers schedule an appearance contact ean Sibelius, in his own unique FFN trustee Teuvo Pulkkinen at J style, created the humming of [email protected] or the trees and the sound of rippling 760.975.7504. Cover photo by Marko Haapalehto

inlandia grants and FFoundation programs National, the supporting and most important celebrating source of support Finnish heritage for Finnish and Finnish- culture in the American culture U.S., was founded and traditions, in Pasadena, and contemporary California in 1953. Finnish America.. FFN administers scholarships,

FFN is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information: FinlandiaFoundation.org Finlandia Foundation National P.O. Box 92046 Pasadena, CA 91109-2046 Please contact the FFN office for more information: Phone: 626.795.2081 Email: [email protected]