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Festival : Avanti ! Interview : Sirpa Hietanen   When was the festival first established and who's idea / project was it? Avanti! Summer Sounds Festival (Suvisoitto) was first organised in 1986 by the orchestra itself. More more info about Avanti! + festival, see www.avantimusic.fi there press area, code wry5jknp How could you present your festival to our readers who don't know it? Very high quality small happening for friends of contemporary and classic, with surprises (rock,tango, humppa, cinema...)   When is it happening? The week after midsummer, always.   Why this period of the year was choosen? Summer in Finland... The orchestras (where our musicians play) are on a summer holiday then.   Are there many changes / ameliorations from one year to another? The artistic director of the festival changes every year - it changes the programme lines of the estival then, too.   How the programmation of the festival is done? The artistic director has carte blanche - only economical limits (given by me...)   If you had to describe the festival with 5 words... First class, entertaining, not superficial (and great fun)...   Are there many spectators coming from abroad? Some, yes, some groups also.   Do you advertise your festival abroad? Yes, as part of the Finland Festivals - and by articles given by various journalists interested in Finnish music & culture. Would you recommend some sites or places that tourists who come to your festival could visit at the same time? All Porvoo - a small cosy jewel! Helsinki - Porvoo - Helsinki by boat, etc... Are there many possibilities for accomodation? Yes, and Porvoo is only one hours away from Hki by bus... Do you have a web site? What kind of information / content do you offer? See www.avantimusic.fi + the press pages I told about above... How do you explain the popularity of festivals in Finland? General cultural activity, also in the small villages. Crazy summer, very intense although short,- and time to enjoy both nature and culture... You must have seen that Finland is different in the summer!! Did you have, over the years, many french participants? Oh yes, of course, this summer it was Diego MAsson, conductor, but we have a lot to do with France in general. We have been to Ircam in Paris for several times and have many contacts over there. Do you work in collaboration with other festival abroad? In fact, yes. This summer for instance we had 5 festival directors form Japan, Belgium, Berlin, England and Russia visiting & making plans...   What are your projects for the coming years? Jouni Kaipainen (See www.fimic.fi)  is the artistic leader - we'll see... Interview by Vincent Lefrançois - 2003

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