The robust sound of folk music meets the urban swing of jazz as Värttinä and UMO play the Savoy Theatre in March.

The percussionist of Värttinä, the conductor of UMO Mikko Hassinen has done arrangements of the most popular songs of the world-renown folk group. In addition to “Seelinnikoi” and “Äijö”, the orchestra plays arrangements of some more recent songs of the folk group.

Värttinä is the most successful group of modern Finnish folk music. The music of the band has strong links to Karelia and especially to the singing tradition of women and poetry. The group consists of three female singers and three masterful players of acoustic instruments. The band composes and writes the lyrics of the most of its songs. The arrangements share the easily recognizable characteristics of all music of Värttinä. In addition to touring the group is now occupied with the massive Kalevanmaa production by the national opera and ballet.

In Savoy theatre UMO presents a rare extravaganza of music, as the indisputable forerunners of their field of music – UMO and Värttinä – join forces.

Värttinä:

Mari Kaasinen ­– singer

Susan Aho – singer

Karoliina Kantelinen – singer

Matti Laitinen – guitar, mandocello

Lassi Logren – violin

Mikko Hassinen – percussions