Aphrodite, a master of metal and opera, invited Maija Kauhanen and Lauri Porra to her band

“That’s why I love it,” replies the Greek soprano, who is in the midst of a career Aphrodite Patoulidou.

The trio is completed by a kanteleist-composer with an international career Maija Kauhanenin whose office in Alppitalo we are.

The trio – or, according to Porra, the band – is rehearsing together for the first time, and a reconciliation is underway by Jean Sibelius Jubal-from song for soprano, electric bass and kantele. You should be ready for the Tuusulanjärvi Our Festival starting on Saturday.

But how did the trio of three genres end up together? The answer is provided by Patoulidou’s versatile background and deep enthusiasm for Finland.

Patoulidou sang Greek folk music with his family from an early age and listened to his four years older brother’s rock records from Guns N’ Roses to Manowar.

When Aphrodite was 15 years old, her brother played a Nightwish album. That moment changed his life.

” I marched to the conservatory and said I wanted to learn to sing like Tarja Turunen!”

Thorough classical studies in Greece, Belgium and Germany did not close his interest in other genres. Studying folk music led to the adoption of the key violin or nyckelharpa. His interest in metal led him to bands where he could stretch his voice from a low growl to a scream.

“My classical singing teacher didn’t push me because he knew how stubborn I was. Only later did he admit that he was afraid that I would ruin my roaring voice.”

Finnishfandom increased when an exchange student sang Sibelius at the Thessaloniki Conservatory Tone, tone, Susa – the song.

“It hypnotized me! Since then I have performed Sibelius at every recital.”

Enthusiasm for Finland also led to the fact that he wanted to learn to play the deck and happened to come across Maija Kauhanen’s music online. He became a fan instantly, and the two started messaging each other.

When her international career as a soprano started, she was repeatedly booked by Finnish conductors Dalia Stasevska concerts around the world.

“One time Dalia introduced her husband, and he turned out to be Lauri from the band Stratovarius! I was completely amazed to meet such a big metal star!”

Oh, if only we could make music with these wonderful Finns, he thought.

And what Aphrodite wants, she usually gets.

Metal brought him to Finland for the first time.

“I sang and growled in the French band Igorrr in 2021-2022 and we also performed at Tavastia. I knew it was the shrine of HIM, so the experience was unforgettable.”

He wanted to go to Oulu because Soile Isokoski recording Sibelius About nature made an indelible impression.

“I took lessons from him and it was so much fun! I have too Mother of nature-painting and album covers for metal bands. I use my fine art in performances.”

The debut of the Helsinki City Orchestra took place Pekka Kuusiston in a concert led by Of course, he also calls this Finnish star his “hero”.

Last October, he gave a concert in the Helsinki Seriös series as a pianist Kewal Shahin with. Tuusulanjärvi’s Our festival organizers were excited.

“Danse macabre is a gothic recital I designed, with black roses and cobwebs as the stage. In addition to Sibelius, there are, for example, Toivo Kuulaa.”

Our festival asked for a Danse macabre ensemble for its opening concert on Saturday 25th July, and asked what else he could do.

Opportunities opened up: he would be able to give a concert twice in Ainola as well! And free hands for the Tuusula church concert!

“That’s when I suggested working with Lauri and Maija.”

Pieces fell into place.

Lauri Porra had already gotten to know Aphrodite through his conductor spouse and had invited her to sing his compositions Beyond the Sky – to Oulu as a vocal soloist in the spectacle. Visualization is responsible for capturing space with ultra-long exposure times Jukka-Pekka Metsävainiowho has made books out of his photos, an astrophysicist and a Queen guitarist Brian Mayn with.

Porra had long hoped for cooperation with Maija Kauhanen. And when Aphrodite also proposed Kauha, the trio’s busy schedules were reconciled.

But is this the dreaded crossover that became popular in the 1990s with mixed results?

“I don’t think so. I’ve studied classical singing, folk music and heavy rock. And I sing each genre in a style that suits it,” emphasizes Patoulidou.

First the seven-hour training day is over. According to the trio, many arrangements are already starting to work, but Sibelius’s Jubal is still in the stage.

“It was really nice. Now I know what to practice more,” says Maija Kauhanen with determination.

Porra was also confident after the first training sessions, after all, there are still several days until Tuesday’s concert.

“When musicians from three different genres meet, you can’t always know what to ask for and what to get. But that’s exactly why I apply for these situations.”

It was already possible to practice more of the repertoire in one day than could fit into a church concert.

“Tomorrow we will separate the wheat from the chaff!” Porra decides.

Our festival at Tuusulanjärvi 25.–30. July. Full program: meidanfestivaali.fi

Correction July 25 at 12:57 p.m.: corrected trio concert date. It’s Tuesday July 28th, not Wednesday.