FLUTOPIA duo – Livia Schweizer and Hepa Halme

Livia Schweizer: flutes
Hepa Halme: flutes

Both are united by an interest in integrating improvisation, modern techniques of flute playing and the impulses given by the environment into the elements of the composition and into a comprehensive musical expression.

They met each other at Grand Popo in Benin during the artist residency at Villa Karo in 2021. The first session together immediately showed a musical kindred spirit, to which the tropical environment gave its own additional colour. They decided to continue the cooperation after the residency period in Finland. During the past year, the results of the collaboration have already been published in the audiobook version of the reissue of the first collection of Hannu Salama’s poems (Puu balladin haudalla (Aviador 2022)). With the actual release of their own record in mind, they want to create our own sound world by utilizing the dimensions of different types of flutes and improvisation techniques.

Livia Schweizer’s specialty is the modernism of flute playing and related techniques and forms of expression.
She has performed e.g. as an interpreter of Kaija Saariaho’s works. The collaboration with Inka-Maaria Jurvanen is also worth mentioning. She graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 2021.

Hepa Halme has a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Helsinki (majoring in musicology), he has been working as a freelance musician for more than forty years in a geographically narrow, but musically very broad sector of activity in Helsinki, regardless of any musical or artistic boundaries.

Livia Schweizer’s home page

Couple of sound examples

Photos: Sakari Puhakka

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden, The Finnish Music Foundation and The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike).