Associated with the Réseau Varèse since 1999

The Musica Nova international festival, started in 1981 and dedicated to contemporary music, has now become a biennial event. It is held in odd-numbered years for one week during February and March. From 1999 to 2007, the festival put its spotlight on the works of one big name in contemporary music. The upcoming celebrations will also emphasize young international composers in correspondence with the works of recognized artists. The 2009 festival will mark the beginning of collaboration with Teema, the Finnish cultural television channel, and the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. Musica Nova is co-organised by Finnish Radio, the Sibelius Academy, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Helsinki and the Helsinki Festival.

Johan Tallgren

Artistic Director

Johan Tallgren studied composition at the Sibelius Academy and then with Kaija Saariaho, Brian Ferneyhough, Chaya Czernowin and Roger Reynolds. He also followed a training programme at the IRCAM in 2000-2001. His works have been interpreted by such artists as Ensemble Recherche, Musikfabrik, Ensemble Modern and Court-Circuit. He works together with the Finnish media to publish articles on contemporary music. Johan Tallgren has been the Artistic Director of Musica Nova since 2007.

Johan Tallgren is a member of the Réseau Varèse since 2007.