Trumpeter Verneri Pohjola and drummer Mika Kallio weave an atmospheric, sometimes wild soundscape that perfectly complements the Finnish nature film screened during this concert part of the Saariaho Festival. Animal Image by Perttu Saksa is a poetic evocation of the northern landscape. Kaija Saariaho was very impressed by this Animal Image programme. It inspired her to write her last completed work, the trumpet concerto Hush, which Pohjola premiered in August 2023, shortly after Saariaho’s death.

Verneri Pohjola is a big name in European jazz, renowned for his ability to make avant-garde experimentation accessible to a wide audience. Percussionist Mika Kallio is a true sound magician with extensive experience in free jazz. Their intuitive musical approach perfectly complements the breath-taking black-and-white images of filmmaker Perrtu Saksa, showing a world beyond language and human concepts. ‘The music is an invitation to become an animal yourself,’ according to the creators of Animal Image.

This concert is part of the Saariaho Festival, taking place in Muziekgebouw and Bimhuis from 13 to 16 March 2025.

Verneri Pohjola trumpet/electronics, Mika Kallio percussion