UPCOMING CONCERTS
AINON TARINA release TOUR 2024
Saturday 9.4.2024 at 18.00 Helsinki, Vapaan Taiteen tila (sold out)
Saturday 20.4.2024 at 14.00 Tartto, Estonia, Tampere maja (sold out)
Saturday 4.5.2024 at 14.00 Jyväskylä, Villa Rana
Sunday 26.5.2024 at 15.00 Mäntsälä, Kulttuurimeijeri
The Story of Aino is a unique and comprehensive concert experience composed and performed by the vocal collective Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret. Combining a cappella singing, live electronics and drama in a magical way, the piece is based on a widely known story from the Finnish national epic Kalevala about a young woman facing life's greatest decisions and most demanding pressures.
The Story of Aino seamlessly blends together a cappella harmonies of Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret with musician Johannes Kaira's innovative live electronics. All music in the concert is composed by the vocal collective Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret, under the guidance of their artistic director Sabrina Ljungberg.
The Story of Aino was recorded at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki during 2023, and the album was released in March 2024. The Story of Aino has been supported by The Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Finnish Music Foundation, The Kalevala Society, The City of Helsinki, and the Otto A. Malm Foundation.
Story of Aino is part of the side programme of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024.
WHO WE ARE
young vocal collective from helsinki,
Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret (Sabrina and the Daughters of the Isles), has sparked wide interest and stands out in the Finnish choir scene with its own unique Kanteletar repertoire. Kanteletar, which can be roughly interpreted as “goddess of the kantele”, is a collection of Finnish folk poetry, compiled in the beginning of the 19th century.
The collective’s music is based on songs composed by founder Sabrina Ljungberg (Master of Music, Sibelius Academy 2018) and they are worked on by means of improvisation. Kanteletar’s poems about the life of a young woman turn out to be surprisingly current in the hands of Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret.
The blue ribbons of grief transform into a triumph and consolation. A shot from the music video Armottoman osa, released in June 2020.
Quintessential to the collective of roughly twenty female members is candid expressiveness and dramatic tension. The group’s concerts are put into effect in collaboration with visual artists, dancers, light artists, and featuring musicians. Furthermore, the collective has expanded its way of conveying music in the guidance of professional choreographers and body percussionists, which has made physical movement and improvisation an integral part of the collective’s music.
A shot from the music video Saaren neito, released in May 2019.
Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret was chosen for the final of the international Aarhus Vocal Competition in choir category as the only Finnish group, and won the 2nd prize and the prize for the most innovative performance. The final was held on 1st of June 2019 at Aarhus, Denmark.
In 2017 Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret took part in Tampere Vocal Music Festival and was awarded with three silver stamps. Additionally, the group received praise on its inclusive and original performance, and the collective was chosen to perform in the closing concert of the Chorus Review.
“Let’s sing together, let’s dance together!” A power pose from the music video Armottoman osa, released in June 2020.
In the fall of 2017 the collective arranged communal Kanteletar workshops aimed at young women as part of the official Finland 100 years programme. In 2017 the group composed and performed Christmas concerts titled Kantelettaren joulutarina (Kanteletar’s Christmas Tale). The project was executed with the help of financial aid from Karelian culture society.
The collective’s most recent concert Ainon tarina (The Story of Aino) premiered in October 2021 as part of the collective’s 5-year anniversary celebrations.
Ainon tarina was released as a double-album in 2024 and is available on all music streaming services.
Sabrina ja Saarten tyttäret has been supported financially by The Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Carelian Culture Association and The Finnish Music Foundation, among the others.
A moment of inner thoughts. From the music video Armottoman osa, released in June 2020.
AUDIENCE MEMBERS’ COMMENTS AFTER SABRINA JA SAARTEN TYTTÄRET GIGS:
“Thank you for a magical concert! When I got up after the gig my feet were shaking! The concert was very impressive combination from lights, choreographies, paintings and dramaturgy to wonderful varying songs, moods and expressions.”
“I definitely enjoyed, it was so worth the money! I could not stop the tears from falling, my cheeks were wet and I secretly wiped tears off. Performance was great in all meanings of the word. The choreographies, lights, surroundings, the Kantele player.”
“I don’t actually know why I cried, but I did – from the first tone to the very last one.”
AARHUS VOCAL FESTIVAL 2019, MEMBERS OF THE JURY:
“I want to compliment you on a wonderful set that gave me chills and made me both feel and think.”
“Thank you for sharing this truly wonderful performance!”
”Go on as you did until now: it's wonderful and an enrichment for the international choral scene!”