May–August 2011 Karita Mattila TURKU looks forward to her summer holiday and 2011 concerts in Turku, pp. 8-9 European Capital of Culture, here and now. The Finnish premiere Art sauna is The Baltic Sea, the See Turku as a of Isaac Julien’s the crowning archipelago and the tourist: Sightsee- Western Union: Small experience for River Aura – culture ing tours to Turku 7 Boats at Logomo 10 a summer day 14 thrives near water 20 neighbourhoods May – August 2011 TURKU 2011 Editorial p. 14 The Culture Vainio Kari Grand sailing 2011 Tall Ships ships come to Turku. Rega a Chairman of the Board Christoff er Taxell and Managing Director Cay Sevón from the Turku 2011 Foundation and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso in Turku on 5th March 2011. Sailing before the wind “I’d already heard that the Turku Capital of Cul- ture year was off to a great start, but now that I’ve visited Turku, I’m truly impressed by what I’ve seen. I believe that the year will have long-last- ing eff ects on the entire city and region.” These encouraging words were spoken by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, when he visited Turku in early March. I fi nd it easy to agree with him. We’re doing great! The diverse programme for the Capital of Cul- ture year was launched in accordance with the Arto Takala scheduled plans and so far the programme has at- tracted large audiences. Contents Logomo, the main stage for the cultural year, has exceeded expectations and has received a lot of praise. This old engineering workshop has s. 5 been transformed into a rugged but at the same Going on. time very beautiful setting for exhibitions and performances. The 1827 Infernal Musical and The talk of the town. Middle-Aged Hair musicals as well as various other free-spirited performances have seen Lo- gomo packed with spectators, fi lling up the last s. 8 available seats in the house. Honorary Doctor La Karita. We’ve already experienced a great many things, The world-renowned but there’s a lot more still to come – in fact most Finnish opera singer, of the year’s programme is still ahead of us. The Karita Ma ila. upcoming summer off ers us a diverse programme with a wealth of interesting events from the fi elds Matti Komulainen of music, dance, theatre, opera, circus and the s. 10 arts, to name but a few. The programme takes Phenomenon. p. 12 p. 16 place in the city of Turku as well as in the archi- Sauna and circus. The studio is Jori Hulkkonen’s Paavo Nurmi Stadium pelago and the surrounding regions. In August, instrument of choice. becomes the arena of battle. The Culture 2011 Tall Ships Regatta will bring grand sailing ships to the River Aura. s. 12 Our famed Sauna culture will also receive People of Turku. special attention during the summer. Saunas de- Jori Hulkkonen. signed by various artists have been constructed in diff erent areas of Turku. The public will be welcome to wonder at the creativity and bath in s. 14 the relaxing sauna heat, all at the same time! This Theme: 2011 Explores the project, rooted in Finnish tradition, is being real- Archipelago. ised by the Museum Centre of Turku. Culture’s At Home Culture has really encouraged people to be ac- tive and get involved. In addition to the audienc- by the Water. es, artists and other participants, there have been important contributions from a great number of p. 11 volunteers. s. 17 I hope that the people of Turku will retain their Calendar. Ebon Grayman excitement and enthusiasm for culture way be- Mark these events. becomes Count yond 2011. The level of involvement so far gives Dracula. every reason to expect that this will happen. Or, as Barroso put it: “A city that is able to combine its s. 20 people together with culture will reap long-term Downtown. benefi ts from the year of culture.” Touring Turku neighbour- So this is just the beginning! hoods, cultural exercises and comics. Christoff er Taxell Ma i Vahtera Chairman, Turku 2011 Foundation Cover image: Karita Ma ila, photograph by Per u Saksa. The Turku European Capital of Culture 2011 magazine provides information on the Capital of Culture year programme, the people behind the programme and Turku in general. The last issue of Turku 2011 magazine will be released on 30 August 2011 (in Finnish only). 3 BE A DEMANDING CUSTOMER. HAVE YOUR BEER SERVED THE RIGHT WAY. A beautiful foamy head, a sparkling clean branded glass and a perfectly cool serving temperature. That’s what makes the perfect pint. Find out where you can fi nd one in Turku. www.laatutuoppi.fi May – August 2011 TURKU 2011 Going on whatcouldbea better way to take in the summer than sit- Rocking Toward the Summer ting down by the River Aura? Mariinsky Theatre The various river boats are al- so a great choice, as they gen- Orchestra to Visit tly swing along to the soothing Shapunov Alexander movement of the river. Capitals of Culture This year presents a rare op- portunity to combine these two experiences, as a cavalcade of dozens of rocking chairs will arrive on the banks of the Riv- er Aura. Grab a chair, sit down and swing in the summer. This Rocking Chair Get-Together is a feel-good event that wel- comes everyone – you can even bring your own rocking chair! Rocking Chair Get-Together 28 May 11 am–6 pm Läntinen Rantakatu between Theatre Bridge and Miia Liesegang Miia Kauppiaskatu, Turku Kirjaston kissat – Library Cats Valery Gergiev the world-famous Mariin- phony orchestras in the world. Valeri Gergijev sky Theatre Orchestra from St In recent years, the orchestra Petersburg, led by Valery Ger- has visited the New York Met- giev, will perform at each of the ropolitan, Covent Garden in Capitals of Culture, Tallinn and London and La Scala in Milan, Turku, in August. to name but a few. Hector Ber- Mariinsky is set to play two lioz, Gustav Mahler, Arnold concerts at the Turku Music Schönberg and other such Antti Hopia and Niina Laakko, the artists behind Kirjaston kissat, are participating in the Come Festival as part of the Turku greats have unleashed their tal- Across Comics project by the Turku Comic Book Club (see p. 22). 2011 programme. In the fi rst ent in the past to the backdrop concert, the orchestra and a of this orchestra. selection of soloists will per- Turku Looks form Richard Strauss’ opera Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra photos by street style Ariadne auf Naxos. The second with Valery Gergiev Turku Looks photographer and instalment will present some of fashion blogger Liisa the best works in Russian sym- Turku Music Festival Jokinen have been phony by Tchaikovsky and 11-12 August at 7 pm compiled as a touring Shostakovich. exhibition. Already established in the Turku Concert Hall, 1700s, the Mariinsky Theatre Aninkaistenkatu 9 Orchestra today represents one Tickets from Lippupalvelu: of the most in-demand sym- 60/50/40 € and 55/45/35 € Short Films tion was organised by Nisi Masa, a Paris-based European network on Multi- of young cinema associations which includes over 20 Europe- lingualism an cinema associations. In addition to the archipel- ago documentaries, the festi- earlysummer, a group of young val programme comprises hid- Anna, 29 Juho, 21 Pekka, 79, and European fi lmmakers will tour den treasures from the Nisi “I dress care-free, going by how “I wear thin guy’s clothing: slim Irma Kaislaniemi, 86 the Turku archipelago, mapping Masa archives. In addition to I happen to feel. I o en wear and slender. I like simple things Pekka: “You have to dress for multilingualism in Finland. the fi lms, the festival features clothes designed for boys. I’m and cuts. I play around with the occasion and the context. into grunge style, bright colours, colour tones, both pastel and I do not wear jeans, they are During an intensive two-week panel discussions on multilin- shoes and clothes that are ei- bright colours, but you really workwear!” period of working together, the gualism. ther second-hand or self-made. have to know how to match Irma: “I always complement my group will create six short doc- I painted the t-shirt myself, them with taste. My trademarks dress with matching socks and umentary fi lms that will have when I became inspired while are socks pulled over tight accessories. The most stylish drawing a live model. It’s a kind jeans. I came up with the style man in Finland is their immediate premieres. Polyglot Film Festival of a study made on six months ago. Since then, I’ve Alexander Stubb, while Jut- The group of international 18–19 June fabric.” used the combination almost ta Ziliacus is the most stylish cinema professionals was select- Media LIV AB every day.” woman.” ed through an extensive short (former Domino) fi lm competition. The competi- Humalistonkatu 7 A, Turku 5 Going on May – August 2011 TURKU 2011 Riding the Cultural Express Henrik and the The bus connection between Turku Airport and the har- Hammer of Witches bour has been dubbed the Cultural Express. In March, – Folk Opera people who rode the Cultur- al Express became involved in mobile pharmacy market- on Witch Hunts ing, as the Sixfi ngers Theatre jumped aboard with their in- as the august nights grow sic, church music, jazz and ar- teractive Love Sickness per- increasingly darker, a night- tistic music, such as American formance.