It’s children’s bed­time. Lit­tle Lotta already has her night dress on, but a new ani­mal ABC book tempts her to stay up a lit­tle longer still. Mum and dad push her to Slum­ber­land but the excit­ing book that excudes magic sweeps her along again and again. A, B, C and so on - what are the ani­mals behind the letters?

Ryt­mi­hyrrä — Eläin­lauluja lap­sille (Rhythm Ant  —  Ani­mal Songs for kids) is the  Swedish/Finnish-language children’s pro­duc­tion that fea­tures Emma Salokoski on vocals. Behind the ani­mal songs are the composer-conductor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen and Mayvor Fridlund-Lintinen who has writ­ten the lyrics for the songs.

- In 2002  –  2006 Mayvor and I wrote 28 Swedish-language ani­mal songs for a book project.  Now I have arranged 18 of these songs for UMO and Emma Salokoski, says Kirmo Lintinen.

The direc­tion and dra­maturgy of the con­cert is by Chris­t­ian Lind­blad, known as a film and the­atre direc­tor, scriptwriter and actor. In the new mil­len­nium Lind­blad has writ­ten scripts for and directed many drama­tised music pro­duc­tions (includ­ing Markus Fagerudd’s children’s opera, Gaia, for the Finnish National Opera in 2001).  Behind Rytmyra’s visual look and set design is the visual artist Pir­jetta Bran­der.

The show is in Finnish.

Dura­tion: 40 min

It’s children’s bed­time. Lit­tle Lotta already has her night dress on, but a new ani­mal ABC book tempts her to stay up a lit­tle longer still. Mum and dad push her to Slum­ber­land but the excit­ing book that excudes magic sweeps her along again and again. A, B, C and so on - what are the ani­mals behind the letters?

Ryt­myra — Djursånger för barn (Rhythm Ant — Ani­mal Songs for kids) is the autumn’s new Swedish/Finnish-language children’s pro­duc­tion that fea­tures Emma Salokoski on vocals. Behind the ani­mal songs are the composer-conductor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen and Mayvor Fridlund-Lintinen who has writ­ten the lyrics for the songs.

- In 2002 – 2006 Mayvor and I wrote 28 Swedish-language ani­mal songs for a book project.  Now I have arranged 18 of these songs for UMO and Emma Salokoski, says Kirmo Lintinen.

The direc­tion and dra­maturgy of the con­cert is by Chris­t­ian Lind­blad, known as a film and the­atre direc­tor, scriptwriter and actor. In the new mil­len­nium Lind­blad has writ­ten scripts for and directed many drama­tised music pro­duc­tions (includ­ing Markus Fagerudd’s children’s opera, Gaia, for the Finnish National Opera in 2001).  Behind Rytmyra’s visual look and set design is the visual artist Pir­jetta Bran­der.

The show is in Swedish.

Dura­tion: 40 min.

Con­duc­tor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen

Laura Närhi, bet­ter known as a mem­ber of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s tra­di­tional UMO Christ­mas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gain­ing a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuu­ta­molla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the great­est radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be set­ting the mood for an enjoy­able Christ­mas with rest­ful sea­sonal music.

Dura­tion: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

Con­duc­tor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen

Laura Närhi, bet­ter known as a mem­ber of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s tra­di­tional UMO Christ­mas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gain­ing a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuu­ta­molla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the great­est radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be set­ting the mood for an enjoy­able Christ­mas with rest­ful sea­sonal music.

Dura­tion: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

Con­duc­tor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen

Laura Närhi, bet­ter known as a mem­ber of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s tra­di­tional UMO Christ­mas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gain­ing a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuu­ta­molla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the great­est radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be set­ting the mood for an enjoy­able Christ­mas with rest­ful sea­sonal music.

Dura­tion: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

Con­duc­tor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen

Laura Närhi, bet­ter known as a mem­ber of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s tra­di­tional UMO Christ­mas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gain­ing a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuu­ta­molla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the great­est radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be set­ting the mood for an enjoy­able Christ­mas with rest­ful sea­sonal music.

Dura­tion: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

Con­duc­tor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen

Laura Närhi, bet­ter known as a mem­ber of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s tra­di­tional UMO Christ­mas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gain­ing a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuu­ta­molla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the great­est radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be set­ting the mood for an enjoy­able Christ­mas with rest­ful sea­sonal music.

Dura­tion: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

Con­duc­tor Kirmo Lin­ti­nen

Laura Närhi, bet­ter known as a mem­ber of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s tra­di­tional UMO Christ­mas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gain­ing a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuu­ta­molla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the great­est radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be set­ting the mood for an enjoy­able Christ­mas with rest­ful sea­sonal music.

Dura­tion: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

Conductor Kirmo Lintinen

Laura Närhi, better known as a member of Kemopetrol, is the vocal soloist on this year’s traditional UMO Christmas tour. She released her first Finnish-language solo album Suuri Sydän (Great heart) in autumn 2010 to much acclaim, gaining a lot of air time on radio; three of its tracks have become major hits. She is also known for the title song of the film Kuutamolla (Lovers & Leavers), one of the greatest radio play hits of the 2000s.

UMO and Laura Närhi will be setting the mood for an enjoyable Christmas with restful seasonal music.

Duration: 90 min

www.lauranarhi.fi

UMO and Sami Pitkämö will be performing swing classics in the spirit of Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington and Count Basie at the Espa Stage in Esplanadi Park. They will also be playing music from Sami Pitkämö and UMO’s joint album Lauluja rakkaudesta ja vähän muustakin (2008).

Sami Pitkämö (b. 1973)

• a music professional with a distinguished career including work with UMO, Lenni-Kalle Taipale and Jean S; he has also been a session player and a recording producer
• Sami Pitkämö’s Orchestra was the house band in the Finnish version of Strictly Come Dancing on MTV3
• his own bands include Hemma Beast and Suo, Kuokka ja Jussi
• on the jury of the Finnish version of Idols for the fourth year running, this year with Nina Tapio and Jone Nikula

www.samipitkamo.com