Seppo Kantonen 60 & NeoQuartet

Seppo Kantonen trio

Seppo Kantonen: piano
Antti Lötjönen: double bass
Markku Ounaskari: drums
Mikko Innanen: wind instruments

In December, at Hietsun Paviljonki the great man of Finnish pianism, Seppo Kantonen is celebrated. There will be an exceptionally wide coverage of Kantonen’s compositions for different ensembles, from a traditional jazz trio to a string quartet. During the evening, Kantonen will perform solo, as a duo with Mikko Innanen, in the ranks of the new Seppo Kantonen trio and together with the top Polish string quartet NeoQuartet.

NeoQuartet also interprets a rarely heard modern classic: Witold Lutosławski’s (1913-1994) string quartet.

The ensemble has been training regularly since the beginning of 2023 and will continue in the same way throughout the year. “The trio started the rehearsals of my new composition material at the beginning of 2023. The expressive language of the band is free but based on the composed. In my opinion, I have only recently found the mixture of consonances and dissonances that I like. The atmosphere of my songs is supported by Markku Ounaskari’s beautiful drum sound and Antti Lötjönen’s rhythmically strong bass playing, both of which are also sensitive and quick to react to new situations. In my opinion, the best description for the trio is that it strives for clear expression,” describes Kantonen.

Photo: Sakari Puhakka

NeoQuartet

Karolina Piątkowska-Nowicka: 1st Violin
Paweł Kapica: 2nd Violin
Michał Markiewicz: Viola
Krzysztof Pawłowski: Cello

NeoQuartet is Polish string quartet focused on performing contemporary classical music. NeoQuartet is one of the most active European ensembles specializing in new music. It has played numerous concerts on most renown festivals and venues throughout Europe, China, South Korea, Japan, and USA. The ensemble has recorded so far 12 CDs for Polish, German, Greek and American labels.

”We are passionate about art and contemporary music. We love to create, play concerts, think outside the box, challenge existing dogmas. We enormously value the possibilities of collaboration with various artists and ensuing mutual inspiration. We are fascinated by making bonds with audience, jumping to other dimensions and catching new perspectives of looking into the world.”

Outstanding energy, full commitment, freedom of expression and creation of new developmental paths – these are the main features of NeoQuartet.

Photo: Małgorzata Popinigis

The concert is organized in collaboration: Hietsu is Happening!

The concert is supported by City of Helsinki, Svenska Kulturfonden, The Finnish Music Foundation and The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike). And also @Instytut Adama Mickiewicza
@Ministerstwo Kultury i Dziedzictwa Narodowego
@Culture.pl