Helsinki Early Music this year pays tribute to the English composer Henry Purcell born 350 years ago. A master of drama, he excelled at both instrumental and vocal music. Helsinki’s most beautiful churches and halls will be filled with magnificent Baroque music in a variety of ensembles each creating a different sound world. During the week, music by Purcell will be coupled with works by such composers as William Lawes, George Frideric Handel and Alessandro Scarlatti. The Artistic Director of this festival now celebrating its fifth anniversary is harpsichordist Anna-Maaria Oramo.

Once again the list of performers includes some international names. Skip Sempé conducts the Helsinki Baroque Orchestra and the Utopia chamber choir in a concert in which the soloist is soprano Céline Scheen from Paris. Soft early-music sounds will be conjured forth by the renowned Capriccio stravagante ensemble from France and theatrical solo songs by Purcell will be performed by soprano Susanne Rydén from Sweden. Also on the programme are Opus X, the Chorus Cantorum Finlandiae, young soloists from the Sibelius Academy and the Academy’s Church Music Department under conductor Timo Nuoranne. Helsinki Early Music has something exciting for children, too: an adventure in the world of music with, to guide them, an absent-minded composer and the Bravade consort of recorders large and small.