Legends of the Finnish music scene, accordion artist Maria Kalaniemi and pianist Timo Alakotila, are celebrating the 35th anniversary of their duo. Their new album does not hold back on sensitivity, brilliance, or emotional intensity. A composition by Lasse Mårtenson, Morgondimma, was chosen as the album’s title track, serving as a reminder of light, beauty, and the meaning of life in uncertain times.
Maria Kalaniemi and Timo Alakotila occupy a unique and valuable place in the world of musical exploration and expression. They are kindred spirits who compose, arrange, play, and perform together, captivating audiences with their distinctive and compelling musical lines. To celebrate their long-standing collaboration, the duo made time in their busy schedules to enter the studio and record a collection of tunes meaningful to them both.
“It was a joy to make an album together again after such a long time! After all, we are celebrating our 35th anniversary through music,” Maria Kalaniemi enthuses, continuing: “Lasse Mårtenson’s magnificent composition and lyrics have been on my mind for quite some time. Now it has finally come to life on the album, arranged beautifully by Timo and accompanied by a wonderful string quartet. The piece tells of a sailor at sea, surrounded by morning mist, in silence. It invites us to pause and reflect on both the beauty and the finiteness of life.”
True to the duo’s style, the album features a wide range of genres, including tango, Finland-Swedish traditional tunes, minuet and polska, as well as melodies with Balkan influences. Kalaniemi and Alakotila are known for their delicate and lyrical tones. This time, the human voice is also used as an element in pieces such as Lyckönskan and Hambo vid Fäbodan. Metsäkukkia sweeps the listener into a masterfully crafted waltz, while Oblivion by Piazzolla moves through shifting moods with its dark and emotional tone. The nuances of the pieces are crowned by Kalaniemi’s and Alakotila’s highly developed improvisational arrangements.
“The making of this duo album is best described by ease, fluency, and trust—qualities that have been present from the very beginning of our 35-year journey. In my view, the selection of pieces is broad and diverse in scale, much like both of our musical histories. Soulfulness and intimacy are certainly central elements in our collaboration. The acceptance and support of one’s musical partner in every situation creates a deep sense of security, which we hope is also conveyed to the audience. This collaboration continues to be the best kind of soul care I have experienced,” Timo Alakotila describes.
The music of Kalaniemi and Alakotila leads the listener into an enchanting, dreamlike world filled with imagination, colour, and emotion. The artists aim to offer an immediate and personal experience that touches us deeply. In a time marked by uncertainty, unrest, and a lack of direction, Morgondimma reminds us of light, beauty, and the meaning of life.
BIO
Over the course of a career spanning more than 40 years, Maria Kalaniemi has redefined perceptions of the accordion and the music performed on it. She is known for her exceptional sensitivity as a performing artist and for her highly developed virtuosity and mastery of the instrument. As a soloist and ensemble musician, Kalaniemi has performed extensively around the world through her domestic and international projects, appearing in venues ranging from concert halls in Vienna and festival halls in Tokyo to a manor hall in Espoo, Finland. Her award-winning repertoire highlights the Swedish-speaking Finnish musical heritage, alongside a substantial body of her own compositions. In 2018, Maria Kalaniemi was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Music and was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
Timo Alakotila is one of the most sought-after musicians in Finland. His talent as a composer is also internationally recognized across genre boundaries. Alakotila’s extensive body of work includes concertos, music theatre productions, dance performances, and countless arrangements, which have also been performed in international orchestral collaborations such as the BBC Proms festival in London. In 2016, Alakotila released an album of his own solo compositions titled Timo Alakotila & Piano. He is currently active in ensembles such as Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila, JPP, Nordik Tree, duo May Monday, Tango Orchestra Unto, Psalttamus, T for Three. Alakotila has worked as an artistic producer, musician, composer, and arranger on more than two hundred recordings. He is also a highly respected teacher and has developed a method for folk music improvisation. In addition, he serves as the artistic director of Kaukas Elofolk, a festival held in Hyvinkää.
1Lyckönskan03:48
Musik: Traditional
2Munsala04:10
Musik: Traditional
3Hambo vid fäbodan03:44
Musik: Maria Kalaniemi
4Metsäkukkia03:16
Musik: Traditional
5Oblivion04:27
Musik: Astor Piazzolla
6Morgondimma04:10
Musik: Lasse Mårtenson
7Polska 202603:18
Musik: Timo Alakotila
8Tango Berlin03:41
Musik: Timo Alakotila
9Koraali05:22
Musik: Timo Alakotila
PressefotosBitte auf die Vorschau der Fotos klicken, um ein Foto anzusehen. In der dann geöffneten Ansicht ist ein Link zum Download einer druckfähigen Version zu finden.