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http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=27-Feb-2015&lang=de&s=10043
http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=27-Feb-2015&lang=de&s=10043
27-Feb-2015
by Anne Stoor, Kokkola Accordion Festival
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  The XVIII Kokkola Winter Accordion Festival’s eight event-packed days ended with Sunday’s Accordion and Ski event. Download the program at: 2015KokkolaDuring the week the festival presented 35 events, half of which were admission-free. This year’s festival welcomed 4,500 festival-goers – an increase of 100 from last year. A diverse and delightful weekend. Kokkola Director Raimo Vertainen (picture right) sees many festival highlights when he looks back on the bustling week, which hit the ground running on Sunday with Indoor Accordion Orienteering. An enjoyable coffee concert followed in the afternoon, and the early evening kicked-off with a wintry walk around the historic district of Neristan. The high point of the day was without question the soviet ESSe Quintet’s skillful performance. On Monday, the evening program included a regular festival favorite, Young Virtuosos Let Loose, and on Tuesday there were kids’ concerts, sled-rides and then an extreme culture shock curtesy of Roman Schatz. In the evening, Raimo Vertainen fulfilled a long-held dream in the conservatory concert hall. “The idea to present Wagner’s music in accordion has been simmering away for more than 10 years. On Tuesday, my dream finally became a reality – and in such an extraordinary way! Baritone Esa Ruuttunen gave his all, Janne Valkeajoki astoundingly replaced a whole accordion concert with a single instrument and the whole thing was skillfully narrated by Roman Schatz, who told of Wagner’s life and his legendary operas. The whole thing was an extraordinary success!” On Wednesday a packed conservatory hall witnessed Jorma Uotinen and Trio Avec deliver a passion-filled Parisian-themed performance. And then on Thursday, Winter Accordion celebrated its collaboration with neighboring Pietarsaari for the second year running. The day away included lunch music at Campus Allegro, the young Finnish accordion orchestra’s concert in Snellman Hall and M.A. Numminen & Pedro Hietanen at O’Leary’s jazzclub. “The cultural collaboration between the neighboring cities worked spectacularly well. Snellman Hall is already booked for next year,” said Vertainen. On Friday the Middle Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchetra presented an outstanding concert featuring Anna-Maria Helsing as conductor and Niko Kumpuvaara on accordion that was broadcast on YLE Radio 1. That evening, the cultural event Strada demonstrated just how diverse and eclectic accordion-playing in Kokkola can be. On Saturday afternoon, audiences enjoyed a beloved festival tradition: music at the Kallentori marketplace. Due to the popularity of previous years’ events, the music went on for an hour longer than usual. The week was crowned by Guardia Nueva’s two concerts with the outstanding tango king Teemu Roivainen and Yxpila’s young Satamakadun Seireenit-ladies as soloists. In the evening the entertainment continued to the beat of La Riipa Group at the Night Club Calle. Finally, on Sunday relaxation was the order of the day, with the ski trip to Rastimaja, where all were entertained by Jari Saarenpää. Thanks to all and see you next year! Festival Director Raimo Vertainen: “The festival went outstandingly well, even if at times I didn’t know what day it was! And it was just as easy to get lost in the enjoyment of the events. I am truly satisfied with Kokkola Winter Accordion yet again and wish to extend a huge thanks to the public, performers, followers and friends. Now it’s time for a well-earned rest – but first, be sure to mark your calendars for next year, when the XVIII Kokkola Winter Accordion will take place 14th to 21st February 2016." |