Sunshine melodies and classical favourites at Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s Park Concert

Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Tampereen Energia and Tampere Hall will host the traditional end-of-summer Park Concert at Sorsapuisto park in Tampere on Saturday, 9 August 2025, at 6 PM. The orchestra is under the baton of Chief Conductor Matthew Halls, with soprano Anu Komsi as soloist. Admission is free.

The concert programme promises light, joyful classical music, perfect for the end of the summer. The evening begins with Skylines, a fanfare by Sebastian Fagerlund, the featured composer for the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2025–2026 season. The evening will conclude with Maurice Ravel’s iconic and mesmerising Boléro, performed in honour of the composer’s 150th anniversary.

Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s Park Concert also marks the start of the orchestra’s 95th anniversary autumn season, reflecting the themes of the upcoming concerts: powerful emotions and musical love stories. The programme includes selections from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Other highlights include Erkki Melartin’s Butterfly Waltz from the fairytale play Sleeping Beauty.

The radiant coloratura soprano Anu Komsi shines as the concert’s soloist. She will perform, among others, Catherine’s flute aria from Giacomo Meyerbeer’s opera L’Étoile du Nord, and Rusalka’s Song to the Moon from Antonín Dvořák’s Rusalka.

From the beloved repertoire of Finnish composers, the programme includes Jean Sibelius’s music to William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, and Erna Tauro’s Höstvisa with lyrics by Tove Jansson. Anu Komsi will also interpret Oskar Merikanto’s song Päivyt paistaos and Melartin’s song Minä metsän polkuja kuljen.

– “The Summer of Love” could be the name of our Park Concert, as our Chief Conductor Matthew Halls wanted to delight the audience with music that radiates sunshine and tells stories of grand emotions. The orchestra – together with our long-time partners Tampere Hall and Tampereen Energia – warmly welcomes everyone to enjoy music together in Sorsapuisto park once again! This year, the concert can only be experienced live in the park, said Eija Oravuo, General Manager of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.

Tampereen Energia has proudly sponsored the free-to-attend Park Concert for the past nine years.

– We are the city’s own energy company, owned by Tampere residents, and we want once again to offer everyone the chance to enjoy top-class music in the city’s best location. This event is one of Tampere’s most anticipated summer highlights. We have worked closely with Tampere Hall for years to promote sustainable events. Tampere Hall is heated entirely by our locally produced renewable district heating and cooled with our renewable district cooling, said Jussi Laitinen, CEO of Tampereen Energia.

During the Park Concert, the Sorsapuisto park event area will offer both hot and cold beverages as well as sweet and savoury snacks for sale. Restaurant Tuhto will extend its opening hours from 12 PM to 9 PM and offer both its regular menu and takeaway picnic items. Tampere Hall’s ticket office will offer special deals throughout the concert day. DJ Juissi will entertain the audience in the park from 3 PM until the orchestra begins.

Earlier the same day, from 12 PM to 5 PM, Tampere Hall will host a Moomin-themed family event, The Grand Birthday Celebration, in honour of the Moomins’ 80th anniversary and Tove Jansson’s birthday. Activities include pancakes, ballroom dancing, friendship bracelet crafts, panel discussions, musical performances, and the traditional garlanding of the Moomintroll statue. This event is also free of charge.

For more, see our concert calendar.