Musicians
ZAGROSChamber ensemble Zagros is group of broad-minded Finnish musicians concentrating on contemporary music. Zagros is also one of the leading permanent chamber music ensembles in Finland. Key words of this former Sibelius-Academy´s student orchestra have always been liberal-thinking, idealism and the desire to experiment. |
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The ensemble changes its format from one concert to another; depending on the repertoire to be performed its size varies and Petri Komulainen has been the artistic director since 2013. Two essential themes in the repertoire planning are the modern classics of the 20th century and the very latest in contemporary music. The members of Zagros find the performing and promotion of the contemporary music a very important part of their artistic policy. Close co-operation and contacts with young composers identifies them. For the 2005 concert series ”Zagros in Balder - Chamber music in the heart of the city” Zagros has comissioned four new works from four Finnish composers.
Zagros has been in close association with conductors Hannu Lintu and John Storgårds. In 2003 Susanna Mälkki designed for the ensemble a concert series ”Soiva Pää”, composers from Europe.
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Chamber music series ”Zagros in Balder - Chamber music in the heart of the city” at the Balder hall in Helsinki and the New Pavilion of Kauniainen started in the autumn 2004 and are continuing still. Klang concerts in the new Musiikkitalo are also an important part of the concert agenda.
Zagros has performed in various festivals, such as Nuove Sincronie in Milan, Artgenda in Copenhagen, Tampere biennale, Turku Music Festival, Helsinki Festival, Musica nova Helsinki, Time of Music, Ung Nordisk Musik and Pohjoismaiset musiikkipäivät in Finland.
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The ensemble has its own Lanka palaa! –festival and it was first organised in Helsinki in April 1998, followed by festivals in March and October 2000. In 1996 Zagros won the Uussoitto competition for ensembles held during the Tampere biennale.
Zagros has been nominated as an award winner of the Nordic Council Music Prize 2005 and it is the featured "house-ensemble"of the Kallio-Kuninkala Festival.