Participates
Markku Lepistö (accordion)
Mikko Helenius (organ)
Program
Music for accordion and organ
On December 1st at 16:00 in the concert hall “Latvija,” Markku Lepistö and Mikko Helenius will present a performance where the sounds of the accordion and organ blend together, incorporating elements of Nordic folk, classical, and jazz music.
Markku Lepistö and Mikko Helenius are regarded as two of Finland’s most distinguished contemporary musicians. Both are not only virtuosos on their respective instruments but also excel in various musical styles, effortlessly integrating them into their repertoire. Lepistö is a prominent accordionist in Finnish and Nordic folk music, while Helenius is a highly sought-after performer of concert and church organ music and an accomplished bandoneonist. Their duo’s repertoire includes both traditional and contemporary folk music played on diatonic accordion and organ. Their compositions cover a wide emotional range.
Markku Lepistö studied folk music at the Sibelius Academy, where he earned his doctorate in 2016. Mikko Helenius graduated from the Church Music Department of the Sibelius Academy and also studied bandoneon in Paris and composition under Argentine tango music legend Gustavo Beytelmann.
Music critics describe this duo as follows: “Combining accordion and organ might seem discordant, but this duo is something fantastic” (Veijo Murtomäki, Helsingin Sanomat). Their albums have gained significant attention in Finland and across Europe.
The concert program brings together the grandeur of a cathedral with the intimacy of chamber music. While Lepistö has traditionally “lived” in Finnish folk music, in this program, he indulges his passion for jazz (Fiona Talkington, BBC3).
The concert will feature a mix of traditional and contemporary Nordic folk music with a touch of jazz, performed on diatonic accordion and organ. The warm and rich sound evokes joy, sorrow, grace, and hope (Andrew Cronshaw, fRoots).
