FinnFest USA is an annual, national festival celebrating Finnish-American and Finnish culture and heritage, established in 1982. Organized in a different city every year, this year, the event takes place in Buffalo and is expected to attract visitors from all over the United States and Canada, as well as from Finland and other countries. The choice of Buffalo has offered some obvious themes, specifically, the opportunity to “experience the thrill of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’s symphonies performed by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the restored splendor of Kleinhans Music Hall, designed by Finnish architects Eliel and Eero Saarinen. [To] be immersed in the film and video work of Eija-Liisa Ahtila, one of Finland’s most important contemporary artists, and explore the influence of Sibelius’s music on Western New York watercolorist Charles Burchfield. You’ll learn about Finland’s history, culture, and inspiring contemporary social innovations, and discover the surprising connections between Finland and Western New York.” Of particular interest to theater goers is My Dear Sibelius: a semi-staged play based on Finnish author, Bo Carpelan’s novel, Axel, from 1986 and correspondence with his patron. Road Less Traveled Theater will perform the piece, Friday night at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center. Visitors can enjoy shopping, food, friends, music, and dancing, and invited to come be “Finnspired” at FinnFest USA 2015 Buffalo. The event runs through Oct. 10th. For the complete schedule, see events.finnfestusa.org/
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