Münsterland Festival part 12 presents programme: Around 50 events with guest country Finland

Tickets are now available in advance

From 1000 lakes to 100 castles: This is the motto of the Münsterland Festival part 12 with Finland as guest country. From 6 October to 5 November, Münsterland e.V. invites you to music, art and dialogue, focusing on the people and culture of Finland. Tickets and the complete festival programme are now available online at www.muensterland-festival.de.

"The Finns and their way of life have made a deep impression on us. In addition to fascinating concerts, we have planned a variety of special events that give an insight into the rich Finnish culture," emphasises Christine Sörries, Artistic Director. 32 concerts from the genres of jazz, pop, classical and traditional sounds in a modern guise as well as six art projects and eight dialogue projects invite you to an inspiring voyage of discovery through the entire Münsterland region at the now twelfth edition of the festival. "Every festival is unique and brings something new, unexpected and special - that's what makes it so interesting," says Lars Krolik, festival director at Münsterland e.V..

The variety of events is made possible by a large number of sponsors and supporters, including in particular the state of NRW with funds from the Regional Culture Programme (RKP). Included in the festival are 35 towns and municipalities throughout the Münsterland region with around 40 exciting venues. "The Münsterland Festival transports the Finnish attitude to life into the region in a special way and in doing so also brings us a little closer to our own culture, nature and architecture," emphasises Klaus Ehling, Chairman of Münsterland e.V..

The twelfth edition of the festival will be opened on 6 October by saxophone star Linda Fredriksson at the LWL Museum of Art and Culture in Münster. In her luggage: the project "Juniper" - a personal singer-songwriter album, outstandingly presented by an instrumental jazz band. The finale is on 5 November at Burg Vischering in Lüdinghausen with the Iro Haarla Electric Ensemble, characterised by Afro-American rhythms, acoustic instruments, synthesiser and electric guitar.

The gifted jazz pianist Iiro Rantala performs twice: on 7 October with the HEL Trio at Kulturgut Haus Nottbeck in Oelde, and on 2 November as a soloist with the Münster Symphony Orchestra at Draiflessen in Mettingen. Spectacular rhythms and timbres can be heard on 10 October with Jarmo Saari Republic at Schulze Frenking's Hof in Nottuln. The Finnish drummer Jarmo Saari, known for his sound collages, has brought together three Finnish drummers whose dynamic interplay is unique. A little later, the Finnish soul musician Bobby Oroza will perform at a new venue for the Münsterland Festival: on 12 October in the Rittersaal of Raesfeld Castle.
"Traditional music also has a strong presence in Finland, especially when it is combined with contemporary elements," explains Christine Sörries. This can be experienced, for example, with the musician Maija Kauhanen on 14 October in the FARB Forum Altes Rathaus Borken: she plays her kantele, a historical instrument, masterfully in modern arrangements. The Sami musician Ánnámáret will then present unique vocal sounds, the traditional yoik, on 3 and 4 November (Berkelmühle in Stadtlohn and RELíGIO in Telgte), mixing Sami elements with contemporary impulses.

In addition, there will again be a variety of art and dialogue events. "Of course, with Finland as the guest country, the topic of sauna must not be missing," says Lars Krolik. At the DA, Kunsthaus Kloster Gravenhorst in Hörstel, artist Jan Philip Scheibe invites visitors to build a sauna together using dead spruce trunks from the surrounding area (opening 20 October), and a Finnish hiking day at Lake Offlum in Neuenkirchen (28/29 October) also includes a final sauna session. Finally, a 7-course menu will be served at the "Forest Spirit" project with the Finnish celebrity chef Jyrki Tsutsunen at the Capuchin Monastery in Münster (21/22 October). For this culinary experience, the Finn not only has ingredients from the Finnish forest in his luggage, but also the right musical accompaniment.

The complete festival programme as well as tickets and further information are available online at www.muensterland-festival.de. There, interested parties can also order a programme book and have it sent home free of charge.

Organiser

Organiser: Münsterland e.V.
Festival director: Lars Krolik (Münsterland e.V.)
Artistic director: Christine Sörries

Partners and sponsors

Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Regional Culture Programme NRW), Districts of Münsterland (Borken, Coesfeld, Steinfurt and Warendorf), City of Münster, LWL Cultural Department, Finland Institute, Visit Finland, Muusikkojen liitto - Finnish Musicians' Union, Sparkasse Münsterland Ost, Sparkasse Westmünsterland, Kreissparkasse Steinfurt, Hilde und Bode Crone-Stiftung, Stiftung Kunst und Kultur Münsterland, Procar Automobile Münsterland, KulturStiftung Masthoff, Pianohaus Micke, reiseart, Münsterland Siegel, kultur.west (media partner), Westfalenspiegel (media partner), WDR 3 (cultural partner), Deutsch-Finnische Gesellschaft e.V. (media partner)

www.muensterland-festival.de