Paris/Helsinki. An Evening of Piano Trios

Like the Finnish composer Helvi Leiviskä (1902–1982)—who was the first woman to be admitted to the Finnish Composers’ Association—Mélanie Hélène Bonis (1858–1937) is also among those female composers who, after years of obscurity, are now being rediscovered. Since the turn of the millennium, Bonis’s work has been experiencing a well-deserved renaissance—above all her piano works. The piano trio “Soir et Matin” (1907), penned by the Parisian composer, depicts the contrasting moods of different times of day.

The musicians of the Taru Ensemble combine Bonis’s melodic impressions with Maurice Ravel’s Piano Trio in A minor (1914), which stands as an outstanding example of how Ravel masterfully blended French charm with exotic influences. Helvi Leiviskä’s piano trio also offers a musical opportunity to take a mental journey to Helsinki and discover the Nordic influences of the 1920s.

“Paris/Helsinki” is an event organized by the Concert Society for Finnish Music. A hallmark of this concert series is its thematic focus on works by Finnish composers, which are contextualized across eras and styles in carefully curated programs featuring colleagues from around the world. At the invitation of “L’Association pour la restauration de St. John’s,” the concert will take place at St. John’s Anglican Church in Territet-Montreux. This collaboration is supported by the Finnish Church in Switzerland. After the concert, a casual “Meet & Greet the Artists” event will provide an opportunity to interact with the musicians in the early winter atmosphere. Welcome!

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