The Gardens of Aranjuez

John Storgårds, conductor
Timo Korhonen, guitar
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra

György Kurtág: New Messages op. 34a (Finnish premiere) (duration 15′)
Joaquín Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez (duration 22′)
Intermission, duration 20′
Tōru Takemitsu: To the Edge of Dream (duration 14′)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no 4 B flat Major op. 60 (duration 31′)

The gardens of the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and Takemitsu’s misty dream world come to life in Timo Korhonen’s nuanced guitar interpretations. Rodrigo’s Aranjuez Concerto opens the door to the Spanish landscape: the scent of magnolias, birdsong and flowing fountains. Takemitsu’s music, on the other hand, invites the listener into a different world, where nature, the spiritual world, reality, and dreams intermingle. Beethoven’s Fourth exudes classical balance, lightness, and joy. Conductor John Storgårds builds a bridge between Kurtág’s, who will celebrate his 100th anniversary in February 2026, fragmentary messages and the exuberant joy of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony.

Late Night Chamber Music on Friday 30.1.

The evening continues with chamber music after the concert! Free admission for concert guests.

Saara Lehtinen, flute
Takuya Takashima, oboe and program planning
Nevio Ciancaglini, clarinet
Marco Bottet, bassoon
Eelis Malmivirta, French horn
John Storgårds, violin

Igor Stravinsky: Pastorale
Astor Piazzolla: Café 1930 and Nightclub 1960 from the series Histoire du Tango
Peteris Vasks: Wind Quintet No. 1 “Music for Fleeting Birds”
Joe Hisaishi: Merry-Go-Round of Life