HKO: HJV - Rufus Wainwright: Dream Requiem

Name: HKO: HJV - Rufus Wainwright: Dream Requiem
Start: 2026-08-19T19:00:00+03:00
End: 2026-08-19T19:00:00+03:00
Location: Musiikkitalo

took place · 19 Aug 2026

Musiikkitalo, Helsinki

concert Classical date culture

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Description was written before the event

The 2026 Helsinki Festival opens in grand style with Rufus Wainwright's major work Dream Requiem.

Rufus Wainwright — also plays in other cities (1)

Fri, 6 Nov Helsinki

all dates →

About: Rufus Wainwright

A Grammy-nominated artist from a storied musical family, Wainwright blends pop craft with operatic ambition across more than two decades of recordings - including his 2025 Kurt Weill tribute album with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra.

216M

Hallelujah streams on YouTube Music

140K

YouTube Music subscribers

376K

Facebook followers

3×

Grammy nominations (career total)

What's new

2025-11
Wainwright released his live tribute album 'I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Wainwright Does Weill' with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra on 21 November 2025.
2025-09
A multi-artist concert organised by Wainwright in New York City raised $60,000 for the ACLU's LGBTQ & HIV Project.
2025-08
Wainwright released the single 'Married' from the West End cast recording of John Cassavetes' 'Opening Night', for which he wrote the music and lyrics.

Tour

HealdsburgManhattanSomervilleSt. LouisUtrecht

Tracks

HallelujahLeonard Cohen cover featured in Shrek (2001); 216M+ streams on YouTube Music

Cigarettes and Chocolate Milkfan favourite from the breakthrough album Poses (2001)

Going to a Townlead single from Release the Stars (2007), one of his most-streamed originals

Posestitle track of his acclaimed 2001 album, a live staple

Folkocracy9th studio album (2023) featuring collaborations with David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, Chaka Khan and others

Recent shows

Sep 15, 2026 City Winery, Philadelphia (US)
Sep 12, 2026 The Town Hall, New York (US)
Sep 5, 2026 Provincetown Town Hall, Provincetown (US)

About: Helsingin kaupunginorkesteri

Finland's oldest orchestra, born in Helsinki in 1882, has shaped the country's musical identity for over a century - not least by premiering Sibelius's symphonies with the composer on the podium. Under chief conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, the 102-strong ensemble performs weekly at Musiikkitalo throughout the season.

102

Musicians in the ensemble

100K+

Annual concert audience

140+

Years in continuous operation (founded 1882)

15K

Facebook followers

What's new

2026-05
Helsinki city confirmed that the HPO will continue operating within the city's cultural services department, with no change to its administrative model.
2025-09
The HPO's 2025-2026 season opened with chief conductor Saraste, principal guest conductor Pekka Kuusisto and second concertmaster Kreeta-Julia Heikkilä sharing the stage as violin soloists.
2025-09
Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir serves as composer-in-residence for the 2025-2026 season, with several of her works performed by the orchestra.

Tour

Helsinki

Tracks

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 (Saraste & HPO, Sibelius & Saraste series)Part of the ongoing Sibelius & Saraste multi-camera recording cycle launched in 2023.

Rautavaara: Towards the Horizon (Storgårds)Gramophone Award winner 2012, one of the orchestra's most acclaimed recordings.

Sibelius: Songs (Isokoski / Segerstam)Won the MIDEM Classical Award in Cannes 2007.

Anna Thorvaldsdottir: Before We Fall (Finnish premiere, spring 2026)Finnish premiere of the resident composer's cello concerto, performed in January 2026 with cellist Johannes Moser.

Recent shows

Jan 9, 2026 Musiikkitalo, Helsinki (FI)
Apr 17, 2024 Musiikkitalo, Helsinki (FI)
Apr 12, 2024 Musiikkitalo, Helsinki (FI)

HKO: HJV - Rufus Wainwright: Dream Requiem

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