Lapland Military Band – The Last Romantic

The composers featured in The Last Romantic concert belong to that rare group of artists whose works are both beloved by audiences and acclaimed by critics. The concert opens with Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, a work by the American composer renowned for his inventive fusion of folk melodies and contemporary musical language. The powerful combination of brass and percussion, together with its majestic melody, has made Copland’s piece one of the most celebrated compositions of the 20th century.

Einojuhani Rautavaara’s early work A Requiem in Our Time won the Thor Johnson Brass Composition Competition in 1954. The piece has since become a staple of concert programmes both in Finland and internationally, and represents some of the finest Finnish wind orchestra music. The first half concludes with Ruth Gipps’s Wind Sinfonietta. Written by the English composer and conductor, the work showcases her mastery of writing for wind ensembles and her command of symphonic form.

The second half begins with Felix Mendelssohn’s Nocturne, Op. 24. Its serene and dreamlike opening bars suddenly give way to a lively and spirited celebration. Built on the tension between contrasting moods, the work is one of the most renowned compositions for wind orchestra in the history of music.

The evening’s second work by Ruth Gipps, Seascape, is said to have been inspired by one of the composer’s working trips to the town of Broadstairs. Gipps spent her evenings on the town’s famous sandy beaches, listening to the sounds of nature around her. The powerful roar of the storms that raged during her visit left a lasting impression on her.

The concert’s main work is the Bassoon Concerto by Hungarian composer Frigyes Hidas, who referred to himself as Hungary’s last Romantic composer. He is known for his long and prolific career, during which he composed numerous successful works for wind orchestra.

The concerto will feature Hungarian bassoonist Áron Mojzer as soloist. Mojzer serves as Principal Bassoon of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra and has appeared as a soloist with ensembles including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Riga, and the Sibelius Academy Chamber Orchestra. The concert will be conducted by Ilkka Aunu, conductor of the Lapland Military Band.

Soloist: Áron Mojzer, bassoon

Conductor: Ilkka Aunu

Tickets (incl. service fee):

• Standard ticket €20
• Pensioners / conscripts / unemployed €15
• Children (5–17 years), students €10

Duration: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, including an intermission.

Organizer: Lapland Military Band