In English

12th September 2013

CONCERT FOR THE ELDERLY

Besides offering music performances for various events, our mission is to do charitable work. This year we decided to meet with elderly people by bringing our performances for them to enjoy.

We were invited to perform at the department for Swedish-speaking long-term residents at the hospital of Koskela in Helsinki.

On a sunny afternoon we visited this lovely and homely place where the inhabitants had arrived in great numbers to watch and to listen to our performance. The concert was given on a beautiful glass terrace with a lovely view over the city.

We really enjoyed this encounter; it gave us much energy and we felt a very warm welcome by the audience! The birds in the park gave the music a special dimension and made the moment a truly magical one.

Programme:

G.Puccini: Minuet no.1 & Crisantemi

L.Boccherini: Guitar Quintet G.448

Finnish tunes and folk songs

Photography: Anna-Maria Lehtoaho

22nd August 2013

IN THE NIGHT OF THE ARTS

Every year in August the Helsinki Festival transforms Helsinki into a multifaceted carnival of arts. On one particular night, The Night of the Arts, the capital is filled with a multitude of art-related events, and with a great number of people eagerly seeking to participate in and to experience art.

Ensemble Sense had the honour of being invited to perform the 'Boccherini feat. flamenco' performance in the Conservatory of Helsinki. What an honour and experience it was for us to be part of that atmospheric evening!

With the city buzzing with fascinating events, we were delighted to see that so many people had found their way to the conservatory concert.

Programme:

Luigi Boccherini: Guitar Quintet G.448

Photography: Juho Partanen

27th July 2013

WELCOME TO FOLLOW OUR EXPLORATION IN THE WORLD OF ART AND MUSIC!

'There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.’    Henry James: Portrait of a Lady

Ensemble Sense celebrated summer and the beginning of its activities on a sunny day in July by arranging an afternoon tea concert for guests.

The afternoon tea concert was inspired by English tea tradition. Its history dates back to the year 1840 when Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, grew tired of the sinking feeling of hunger that afflicted her every afternoon. She came up with the idea of asking for a tray of tea with bread and butter and cake. This became a habit and soon her friends were also enjoying the delicious and refreshing afternoon tea with her.

We thought it would be a wonderful idea to enjoy good music, tea and delicacies together! We spent a lovely day with our 50 or so guests in the garden of Rauhamäki house. We offered our guests a choice of eight different kinds of tea and lots of sweet and savoury treats. The delicious chocolate cake made by Pâtisserie& Chocolatier Mayra is worth a mention.

A string quartet started the concert by playing Franz Schubert's Quartett-Satz in C minor - including its seldom played second movement - followed by two miniature pieces by Giacomo Puccini. The grande finale was a guitar quintet G.448 by Luigi Boccherini. In the quintet’s final movement, Fandango, the musicians were accompanied by two charming flamenco dancers. Mexican born choreographer and dancer, Rodrigo González had created their choreography. Visual fulfilment was provided for by artist Seppo Varonen whose paintings were exhibited in the garden.

The full concert programme:

Franz Schubert (1797-1828): String quartett C minor 'Quartett-Satz' D 703

- Allegro assai

- Assai

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924): Crisantemi & Minuet no 1

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805): Guitar quintet D major G.448

- Pastorale

- Allegro maestoso

- Grave assai. Fandango

Musicians:

Viola Räisänen, violin

Petrus Laitinmäki, violin

Matti Lindholm, viola

Katariina Saarikoski, violoncello

Pauli Lamppu, guitar

Dance:

Jenni Kinnunen

Tuuli Lehti

Rodrigo González, choreographer and tutor of the dance

Seppo Varonen, paintings

Photography: Juho Partanen