Home - Veli Kujala

”And a tip of the hat to the on-stage accordionist Veli Kujala for a standout cameo in Hamlet's scene with the Players.” David Wolfson, Bachtrack.com (Review of The Metropolitan Opera's Hamlet) | ”Veli Kujala is the archetype of a modern musician, skillfully incorporating composition, improvisation, and boundary-crossing into his artistry.” Mats Liljeroos, Hufvudstadsbladet | ”Stunningly performed by the composer, Veli Kujala’s Accordion Hyperoriental, the fourth part of Hyperchromatic Counterpoint (2006-09), was one of the highlights of the fabulous evening.” Jari Kallio, Adventures in Music | ”Props must be given to accordionist Veli Kujala who musically carried an entire scene on his own.” David Salazar, Operawire.com (Review of The Metropolitan Opera's Hamlet) | ”The entirety is convincing and represents the latest and most intriguing music of today… Veli Kujala's music vibrates with startling freshness and irresistible originality.” Ville Komppa, YLE Radio 1 | "Kujala’s bravura performance with an accordion capable of quarter tones in Mononen’s Satumaa added a thrill of off-key chaos." Music OMH (review of Tango Prom 70 concert at the BBC Proms) | ”...the Kujala duo shines in the (Kalevi Aho's) Sonata, delivering it with breathtaking virtuosity and nuance.” Patrick Hanudel, American Record Guide | ”Listening to the exceptional Veli Kujala on the accordion is an immense pleasure every time.” Médéric Collignon, Citizen Jazz | ”Accordionist Veli Kujala's debut concert at the Sibelius Academy delivered precisely what one would anticipate from a debut concert: exceptional musicianship, exquisite compositions, and an engaging program.” Samuli Tiikkaja, Helsingin Sanomat | ”The composition DAI masterfully portrayed the vibrant soundscape of Kujala's music, which traverses moments of exuberance, elegance, mystique, intrigue, eeriness, intensity, clarity, and dazzling brightness.” Hanne Orrenmaa, Ilkka | ”Kujala's accordion performance was nothing short of brilliance... I couldn't help but wonder if anyone in the audience had previously encountered such an astonishing soloist on this instrument.” Östgöta Correspondenten | ”Kujala proved to be adept at all styles and made the accordion a more sophisticated instrument.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Coming Up!

Apr 11 World premiere of Quarter-tone Accordion Concerto 2 by Sampo Haapamäki with Arctic Sinfonietta cond. Tim Weiss @ Hetan Musiikkipäivät (FI)

Apr 22–26 Sibelius Academy Accordion Festival in Helsinki Music Centre

Apr 30 “Kaiken takana on Tango” with Jyväskylä Sinfonia @ Paviljonki, Jyväskylä (FI)

May 2-3 Soundscapes #5, improvised music festival, Espoo Louhisali (FI)

News

El Tango @ Premio Castelfidardo

The Premio Internazionale della Fisarmonica Castelfidardo competition commissioned the compulsory work for the final round of this year edition. The result of this commission, El Tango, received beautiful and personal interpretations from all of the finalists, who performed it together with the Orquestra Filarmonica della Calabria conducted by Alfredo Luigi Cornacchia.

You can find the final round performances in YouTube here:

Olzhas Nurlanov Junhao Mao Naixin Zhang

Classical Emma for Finnish Accordion Concertos album

The album “Finnish Accordion Concertos”, featuring my concerto “Shape-Shifter” for accordion and string orchestra, has received the Classical Emma, so called “Finnish Grammy”

Performed by the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra under the direction of conductor Tomas Djupsjöbacka, and featuring soloist Petteri Waris on accordion, “Shape-Shifter” is joined by works from composers Minna Leinonen and Aulis Sallinen.

The album is available on most streaming services.

BellowsArt releases The Well-tempered Clavier

On Nov 23, 2023 the record label BellowsArt released the complete recording of The Well-Tempered Clavier by Susanne Kujala. It is the first complete recording on the classical accordion. Her instrument is tuned to Bradley Lehman’s tuning, which he has deciphered from the ornament drawn by Bach himself on the title page of the first edition of The Well-Tempered Clavier I. You can buy the recordings on www.bellowsart.fi