OAF X The Finnish National Opera and Ballet: Tribute to Jarmo the park drummer

Event Introduction

6–8 pm A tribute to Jarmo, the legendary park drummer
Jarmo, who has a regular spot by the shores of Töölönlahti in Hesperia Park, is a familiar sight for countless passersby. His instruments of choice are the park’s metal rubbish bins, from which he conjures up an irresistible groove – in the early years with sticks gathered from the ground, and later with real drumsticks patched up with tape.

The event will bring together 100 drummers, including Sami Kuoppamäki, Aleksi Kinnunen, Jaska Lukkarinen, Markus Raivio, Petri Sämpi, Janne Flinkkilä, Creat, the Drummers’ Association of Finland ry and drummers from the Resonaari Music School. The rubbish bins will be provided by Stara. Bring your drumsticks and join in!

6:45–7 pm Discussion: Javier Torres & Heini Merkkiniemi
A discussion between Javier Torres, Artistic Director of the Finnish National Ballet, and Heini Merkkiniemi, Executive Director of the Outsider Art Festival.

6–8 pm One Day of Pekka’s Life: Töölönlahti art tour
The Amphitheatre event will feature a visit by artist Dash Che and their performance One Day of Pekka’s Life, which will move around Töölönlahti from the Central Library Oodi to the Opera on the Night of the Arts. The performance gives voice to Che’s alter ego, the fictional drag character Pekka Suomalainen. Pekka is a satirical embodiment of a conservative Finnish man: he proudly defends Nordic excellence and eagerly showcases its supposed virtues. The character stems from the tension created at the intersection of Che’s own immigrant background, genderqueer body and Finnish culture.

Location: The Opera Amphitheatre is located in Hesperia Park, behind the National Opera.

Information about the accessibility in the Opera House is available here.

Categories

Performance, Participate, Outside, Other programme, Talks, Music