Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra to play in Beijing during Olympics

John Storgårds

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The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) will be performing in Beijing in the third week of August, with four Sibelius concerts scheduled.
      The HPO itself will pay for the freighting of instruments as well as the musicians’ return flight tickets to China, and some daily expense allowances.
      According to Administration Manager Hannu Linna, the total expenditure will be up to EUR 400,000, of which sum the orchestra itself is likely to cover approximately EUR 320,000. The Chinese Ministry of Culture will cover all expenses in China, including part of the meals.
     
In Finland, the Ministry of Education has been promoting the visit as part of the programme on cultural cooperation between Finland and China.
      The Ministry will also support the visit.
     
A member of the HPO board, Mike Pohjola (Left Alliance), regards the China tour as rather odd because of the country’s poor human rights situation.
      Pohjola says that some musicians from the orchestra have contacted him, saying that they are not sure whether or not they can go and play in China at the same time as the Olympic Games are going on.
      HPO General Manager Elina Siltanen says that the topic has not been discussed among the orchestra members. The musicians were informed of the upcoming tour already last autumn.
      Initially it was planned for November this year, but a year ago it was decided to shift it to the second week of the Olympics. Two concerts will be given in the Chinese capital.
      ”We do not take any stand on politics. This is a similar Asian tour to those we have had previously”, Siltanen notes.
     
Veli-Matti Iljin, the shop steward of the musicians, has not heard any discussions on the issue among the orchestra members either.
      ”Rather surprisingly, I have not been contacted relating to the matter. However, this is an official trip on which a decision has been made by the City of Helsinki. The officials have obviously seen that it is alright to be there”, Iljin concluded.
      Tapio Lehtonen, the chairman of the orchestra delegation referred to Amnesty International, saying that a boycott would not be an efficient enough means of bringing about change. There should be other methods of pressure.
     
The new Chief Conductor John Storgårds as well as guest conductor Okko Kamu, who will also be on the trip, both abstain from taking any stand on the situation in China, saying that they will play to people, not to the political leadership of the country.
      Kamu noted in passing that the New York Philharmonic recently visited North Korea, with a view to breaking down that country's international isolation.
      John Storgårds takes over the helm of the Helsinki Philharmonic from the autumn 2008 season, replacing Leif Segerstam (1995-2007), who is now the orchestra's Emeritus Chief Conductor. Okko Kamu was also the Chief Conductor of the HPO, from 1981-1989.
     


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