Avec Patrick at the Finnish National Opera, the 28th of January, 2020

The Finnish National Opera has this season had a couple of separate concert performances. In the autumn we heard Camilla Nylund and now, in January, they organized a concert with the theme of French music. The visiting conductor was Patrick Fournillier, who also gave the name to the concert (Avec Patrick).

The first piece played by the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera was “Pélléas and Mélissande” by Gabriel Fauré. During this performance I was still wondering a bit, why the concert was described in the programme leaflet to have an unusual style of French music, which would not be light or ethereal. Yes, the music was quite beautiful, but at least in my opinion rather typically French.

But the second work of the evening, that is Albert Roussel’s 3^rd Symphony was clearly different style. It had more thump and thunder. Even I – and let’s not deceive ourselves in thinking that I would be a huge fan of ballet – caught myself thinking several times that this music would be perfect for a ballet.

The part of the concert, that I had most looked forward to, came after the intermission – Francis Poulenc’s “Gloria”. Now also the Chorus of the Finnish National Opera and the soloist Anu Komsi joined the performance. If you think that “Gloria” is in any way like some religious piece of Bach, you are greatly mistaken. Actually, when you listen to it, you get a feeling that Poulenc has somehow managed to squeeze into it everything. I might not call “Gloria” spectacular, but it was definitely interesting. And, of course, the chorus and the soloist of the evening made it a special event. Anu Komsi’s voice has stunning volume and timbre, which could be heard through the orchestra even from behind the orchestra. So, all in all it was a nice evening. The audience seemed to appreciate the performance and Fournillier thanked for the applause by one extra – the Farandole from Georges Bizet’s “L’Arlésienne”.