Photo: Maarit Kytöharju
Minna Pensola
Minna Pensola plays in the string quartet Meta4, and has appeared as soloist with almost all the Finnish orchestras. In 2008 Pensola founded the Klasariklubi in Helsinki, which combines the leisurely atmosphere of a bar with an opportunity to hear live classical music. She also established the PuKama chamber music association, a joint project between her and her husband, the violinist Antti Tikkanen, one intended to liven up the chamber music scene in the Finnish capital.
Minna Pensola teaches violin at the Sibelius Academy and was Artistic Director of the Sysmän Suvisoitto festival from 2006 to 2012. She attended the Zurich Music Academy and the European Chamber Music Academy. Here main teachers have included Jerzy Blaszkiewicz, Leonid Mordkovich, Kaija Saarikettu, Ana Chumachenko, Josef Rissin and Hatto Beyrle.
Minna Pensola’s instrument is a Carlo Bergonzi violin from 1732, owned by the Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation.
Offstage the swinging up-tempo is maintained by two daughters and two cats.
In October of 2021 Pensola and her husband Antti Tikkanen were chosen as Kuhmo Chamber Music’s new artistic directors.
Artist's/Ensemble's own websiteProgramme
12.7.
Jaakko Kuusisto (1974—2022):
Buffalo Encore for three violins (2015)
12.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Serenade in C, K. 648 for string trio 'Ganz kleine Nachtmusik' (ca. 1766–69)
12.7.
J. C. Bach (1735—1782):
Organ Concerto in E flat
12.7.
Astor Piazzolla (1921—1992):
The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (1965–69)
13.7.
The Heart of the Day - Artistic directors Minna Pensola and Antti Tikkanen discuss the process of putting together this year’s programme (this session will in Finnish, admission free).
13.7.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678—1741):
Violin Concerto in F, Op. 8 No. 3 'Autumn' (1723)
14.7.
Gioacchino Rossini (1792—1868):
String Sonata No. 3 in C for two violins, cello and double bass (ca. 1804)
14.7.
Olli Mustonen (1967):
Nonetto II (2000)
15.7.
Jouni Kaipainen (1956—2015):
Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 102 '…The Pike Rose to the Spruce's Crone…' (2014)
16.7.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827):
Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 24 'Spring' (1800–01, arr. for string trio by Anssi Karttunen)
16.7.
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660—1725):
Sonata a quattro No. 1 in F minor (1725 or before)
16.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
String Quartet in B flat, Op. 1 No. 1 'La chasse' (ca. 1760)
17.7.
Olli Mustonen (1967):
Sonata for two violins (2026, commissioned by Kuhmo Chamber Music, premiere)
17.7.
18.7.
22.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Melodies from the Opera Magic Flute, K. 620 for two violins (1791)
24.7.
Jean Sibelius (1865—1957):
En glad musikant (a Happy Musician), JS 70 for violin (1924–25)
25.7.
Jean Sibelius (1865—1957):
Rondino, Op. 81 No. 2 for violin and piano (1917)
Meta4
20.7.
20.7.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827):
String Quartet No. 6 in B flat, Op. 18 No. 6 'Malinconia' (1798–1800)
20.7.
Robert Schumann (1810—1856):
String Quartet No. 3 in A, Op. 41 No. 3 (1842)
21.7.
22.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
String Quartet No. 49 in B minor, Op. 64 No. 2 (1790)
23.7.
Krishna Nagaraja (1975):
Peripheries for string quartet (2026, commissioned by Kuhmo Chamber Music, premiere)
23.7.
24.7.
25.7.
Luigi Boccherini (1743—1805):
Minuetto from String Quintet in E, Op. 11 No. 5 (G. 275) (1771)
25.7.
Joseph Haydn (1732—1809):
Poco Adagio - Cantabile from String Quartet in C, Op. 76 No. 3 'Emperor' (1797)
25.7.
W. A. Mozart (1756—1791):
Molto allegro from String Quartet in G, K. 387 (1782)
25.7.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770—1827):
Grave ma non troppo - Allegro from String Quartet No. 16 in F, Op. 135 (1826)
25.7.
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805—1847):
Adagio ma non troppo from String Quartet in E flat (1834)
25.7.
Robert Schumann (1810—1856):
Assai agitato from String Quartet No. 3 in A, Op. 41 No. 3 (1842)
25.7.
Maurice Ravel (1875—1937):
Allegro moderato from String Quartet in F (1902–03)
25.7.
Alban Berg (1885—1935):
Allegro misterioso from Lyric Suite (1925–26)
25.7.
Leoš Janáček (1854—1928):
Andante - Con moto - Allegro from String Quartet No. 2 'Intimate Letters' (1928)
25.7.
Amy Beach (1867—1944):
Movement from String Quartet, Op. 89 (1921–29)
25.7.
Béla Bartók (1881—1945):
Scherzo from String Quartet No. 5 in B flat (1934)
25.7.
Dmitry Shostakovich (1906—1975):
Allegro non troppo from String Quartet No. 3 in F, Op. 73 (1946)
25.7.
Kaija Saariaho (1952—2023):
Fleurs de neige from Neiges (1998, arr. for string quartet by composer 2013)
25.7.
Jaakko Kuusisto (1974—2022):
Movement from Play III, Op. 21 (2008)