RIYADH: The Nordic Youth Orchestra will perform in Riyadh for the first time on Dec. 1, presenting “Metsa,” an immersive instrumental-visual experience at Al-Faris International School.
In collaboration with the Saudi Music Hub and the Music Commission, the orchestra will perform a live work by Finnish composer Lasse Heikkila inspired by the seasons.
Hanna-Marie Laul, head producer of the Nordic Orchestra project, told Arab News: “We’re really, really excited. We’re also collaborating with some of the Saudi musicians and we’re also playing a piece from a Saudi composer.”
The orchestra members have self-funded their trip to Saudi to support cultural exchange through music.
“Music kind of builds bridges between nations and it’s just something beautiful that we want to do,” Laul said, adding that most of the musicians have never visited the Kingdom. “It’s just something beautiful to make music together with Saudis. The cost doesn’t matter that much. It’s kind of the passion from the music that comes from the heart.”
The performance blends Nordic-inspired soundscapes with a film by a Finnish director celebrating Estonian and Finnish forests, as well as night skies.
One of the solo works will feature Saudi cellist Mohammed Al-Guthmi, accompanied by the Nordic Orchestra. Other solos include virtuoso Kaur Nellis, Henri Christofer Aavik, Joonatan Rautio, Sonja Kola, Kalervo Kulmala and Laul.
“I feel like the music is the best, really, truly the best kind of art in (creating) cultural exchange because we all understand it,” Laul added. “That’s why we are coming here, to give you guys something that you don’t have and you guys (give us) something that we don’t have, and that’s what’s beautiful about this whole project.”
The performance will also showcase traditional Nordic instruments, such as the Estonian kannel and the accordion.
“We’re coming on our own, and we’re doing the performance for free. We just want the people to experience the music and to unite different nations through music,” Laul said. “We’re just really passionate about what we’re doing and just want to spread it to more people.”
The Nordic Youth Orchestra is a collective of young musicians from across Northern Europe, focused on bringing fresh energy, cultural depth and modern storytelling to classical performance while fostering connections across borders.
