OI AIKA SA ENTINEN – Songs of War and Peace

Harju Learning Center on Tuesday 28.7 July at 18:00 PM
Viipurintie 54, 49980 Ravijoki
Tickets €20,10 (advance ticket price includes subscription fee (from €1,50 + 0,65% of order) www.lippu.fi)
Tickets at the door one hour before the concert

OI AIKA SA ENTINEN
Songs of War and Peace
Seppo Hovi, accordion, piano and stories
Hannu Lehtonen, vocals and saxophone
MPK Southeast Finland Orchestra conducted by Riku Huhtasalo

The war created its songs, many of which were to be cast aside as politically harmful after peace. The veterans of our war entertainment then created a new framework for the pastime of reconstruction. Dance floors were filled and families were founded, tango and savottajenkka were played, and films brought a breath of continental rhythm. Listening to the songs of the 40s and 50s, one is reminded that even worse places have been overcome. A man has been weighed and not a cry, without forgetting the Finnish maiden, a wise and capable stern wall in the operations of war and peace.

The concert is organized by MPK Southeast Finland in collaboration with Hamina Tattoo.

Seppo Hovi

Music advisor, pianist, conductor, presenter and Finnish entertainment multi-talent Seppo Hovi is probably well known to many from various TV and radio programs. He works as a virtuoso musician in various roles, from traditional jazz to classical music. His career is unparalleled in terms of both duration and versatility. The performances are characterized by expert and entertaining narration, which sometimes also challenges the listener to think about the backgrounds of the songs themselves. Seppo has also been named Speaker of the Year. Other awards include the Musicians' Association Recognition Award, Finnish Jazz Legend, Music Advisor 2012 and the Finnish Lion's Pro Finlandia Medal 2020.

Hannu Lehtonen, vocals and saxophone

Hannu Lehtonen holds a Master of Music degree and a diploma in saxophonist. He has also studied singing with various teachers and has also had competition success in both light and classical vocal music. Hannu has worked as a saxophone lecturer at the Lahti Conservatory for a long time, actively performing as a singer and saxophonist in various concert productions with many different artists. One of the most significant collaborations is the close collaboration with the Minister of Music Seppo Hovi, which has lasted for almost twenty years in the form of various concerts, of which the concert you can hear today is a nice example. Further information: www.hannulehtonen.info

MPK Southeast Finland Orchestra

The MPK Southeast Finland Band is a voluntary national defense band operating in the Southeast Finland National Defense District. The band performs mainly in the areas of three provinces, Kymenlaakso, South Savo and South Karelia. The band, which has a strength of approximately 50 players, is formed by members of the Kymenlaakso Wind Music Association and other individual players from the provinces. The core of the national defense band is formed by the Hamina and Kouvola bands. The MPK Southeast Finland Band performs at events organized by veterans, national defense and reservist organizations, among other things, and supports the military music of the Defense Forces when the Rakuuna Band is unable to fulfill a playing order. The band's repertoire consists of traditional military music as well as classical entertainment and church wind music. The conductor of the MPK Southeast Finland Orchestra is Riku Huhtasalo from Lappeenranta, assisted by conductors Kalervo Kulmala from Hamina and Timo Jaakkola from Kouvola.