The new management of Mikkeli’s music festival plans to invest in cooperation internationally, nationally and locally.
Mikkeli’s Musiikkijuhlat emphasizes the importance of cooperation even more strongly.
– Then we will see what can be done in this economic situation and what is safe. For example, it is likely that the subsidies received from the state and the city will at least not increase, says Lasonpalo.
The management duo starts to create new visions and development directions together, with the aim of keeping the festival interesting and of a high standard in the future as well. According to Lasonpalo, cooperation with international and Finnish orchestras will be at the heart of the festival.
– As a good example of cooperation, the opera The Murder of Elina must now be performed, which will bring the spotlight to Etelä-Savo. National and local orchestras are really very good, and you don’t have to bring everything from outside Finland.
Lasonpalo believes that he was chosen for his position precisely because he brings the Mikkeli City Orchestra, the Lappeenranta City Orchestra and the Vivo Youth Orchestra with him, as it were.
– I don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The orchestras that come hand in hand with me are really important pillars in organizing the festival.
Mikkeli’s music festival has been named Festival of the Year 2023.