Laura Malmivaara & Arttu Takalo
Vaasa City Orchestra
sol. Laura Malmivaara & Arttu Takalo
“Monologue from the book Iltatähti”
The multi-talented Laura Malmivaara, one of Finland’s leading actors, and musician Arttu Takalo have together captivated audiences across Finland with the performance Iltatähti. In November last year, they were joined by the Vaasa City Orchestra, and now this concert production—consisting of recitation and Takalo’s own music in expanded orchestral arrangements—is being brought to both Kokkola and Seinäjoki. The performance, based on Malmivaara’s autofictional novel about motherhood, also includes songs set to texts by Edith Södergran and Saima Harmaja, performed by Malmivaara herself.
Program
Iltatähti -introitus (comp. A. Takalo)
Minä näin puun (comp. A. Takalo, text Edith Södergran / Kailas)
Summer rain (comp. A. Takalo)
neverstopdreaming (comp. A. Takalo)
Rannalla (comp. A. Takalo, text Saima Harmaja)
Aallotar-intro (comp. A. Takalo)
Aallotar (comp. Eeva Paavilainen, words Laura Malmivaara)
Nocturne I / Elokuu (comp. A. Takalo)
Tulevaisuuden varjo (comp. A. Takalo, text E. Södergran / Kailas)
Artists
Arttu Takalo
Arttu Takalo is a Helsinki-based composer, vibraphonist, and arranger whose diverse body of work moves between classical music, jazz, and cinematic soundscapes. Educated at the Sibelius Academy, Takalo has released eleven solo albums, the latest of which, Dark Jazz, came out in 2024.
He has performed as a soloist with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, UMO, and Avanti, and has composed music for symphony orchestras, big bands, choirs, and stage productions. His works include Saxophone Concerto (2004), Double Concerto for Accordion and Vibraphone (2019), and Double Concerto for Vibraphone and Percussion (2021).
Takalo has also worked as a producer and arranger for many leading Finnish artists, such as Ismo Alanko, Topi Sorsakoski, Samuli Edelmann, and Maija Vilkkumaa. He was named Artist of the Year at Pori Jazz in 2000, and his work can be heard on over 130 albums.
Laura Malmivaara
Laura Malmivaara (b. 1973) is an actress, author, and photographer based in Helsinki. She is known for her numerous film and television roles, and in early 2025 she starred in the leading role of Yle’s hit comedy series Queen of Fucking Everything.
Malmivaara studied photography at the University of Art and Design Helsinki and graduated as an actress from the Theatre Academy. From 2008 to 2015, she was a member of the KOM Theatre ensemble.
As a photographer, Malmivaara focuses mainly on portrait work. The publishing house Otava has released three of her novels: Vaiti (2021), Iltatähti (2024), and, together with Antti Heikkinen, Pelkkää hyvää (2025).