The Concert Organ at the Musiikkitalo in Helsinki – Book

Kaija Saariaho’s generous donation in 2017 launched an almost seven-year organ project at Musiikkitalo in Helsinki. Built by the Austrian organ builder Rieger Orgelbau and inaugurated in January 2024, the organ is exceptionally significant by international standards.

The organ has 124 stops, a microtonal pipework and a wealth of new technology that is set to revolutionise both organ playing and composing for the instrument. Due to its location, the organ was designed and built as a hyperinstrument with an exceptionally wide range of tonal possibilities, making it a natural complement to Musiikkitalo’s three symphony orchestras: the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra. The organ’s spatial dimensions, visually striking appearance and immersive sound are truly unparalleled.

Edited by organist Jan Lehtola, the book features contributions from organists involved in the project: Olivier Latry, Special Adviser; Jan Lehtola, Vice Chair of the Organ Project Working Group and Chair of the Musiikkitalo Organ Association; Pekka Suikkanen, responsible for the maintenance of the organ; and Ville Urponen, Vice Chair of the Musiikkitalo Organ Association. Project Director Juha Lemström contributes an account of the procurement process, while Jean-Baptiste Barrière explores the organ’s future possibilities in combination with electronics.

The work on the organ project was intensive and multifaceted. The book explores the key stages and aspects of the project, offering a glimpse into the rich and demanding work carried out by the project team and the organ builders.

The book is bilingual, with the English translation by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi. It also features an extensive collection of photographs documenting the construction of the organ. The photographs were taken by Sakari Röyskö.

Technical details:

Hardcover

239 pages

Dimensions: 170 × 230 mm