The late 1950’s and early 1960’s was a golden period in Duke Ellington’s prolific career. Both Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, his creative partner, were composing and arranging at the very top of their game. The Duke Ellington Orchestra of this period was also one of the best that the maestro ever had, with talented newcomers and experienced veterans joining forces to create a tight, swinging ensemble with exciting soloistic fireworks.

Deeper into the Show discussion events will be organised 45 minutes before the concerts at Malmitalo at 7 pm and Vuotalo at 2 pm (Malmitalo 5:15, Vuotalo 1:15) in the cafés of the venues. The discussion events are free of charge for those who bought a concert ticket. Conductor Ed Partyka will discuss the theme and background of the concert and answer the audience’s questions in English. The aim of the events is to offer the listeners a more in-depth concert experience.

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s seasonal performances of Ellington & Strayhorn’s Nutcracker Suite have quickly become a popular holiday tradition for the members of the orchestra and audience alike, and now UMO continues their exploration of this golden period of The Duke Ellington Orchestra by performing the pendant to the Nutcracker Suite, the equally wonderful but lesser known Peer Gynt Suite, originally composed by Edvard Grieg. This suite was recorded and released in 1960, on the same album as the Nutcracker Suite.

The other multi-movement work to be performed is Such Sweet Thunder, made up of original compositions by Ellington and Strayhorn based on and inspired by literature and characters created by William Shakespeare. This music was recorded and released in 1957 and is considered one of the highlights of Ellington and Strayhorn’s collaborative work as composers.

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra’s artistic director and chief conductor Ed Partyka conducts the concert.

Duration 1 hour.

Photo: Janne Tarmio