ANIMAGIOS
Animagios is a Finnish multimedia art concept set in a magical world called Animagios, created by Santte Salonen, Joni Stein and Erika Hammarberg.
In Animagios, everyone has their own soul-character, which is molded by one’s temperament, personality and identity. It evolves through one’s experiences and self-reflection. The mind, and our shared struggle for its well-being, is the central thread of the expansive Animagios project.
YSTÄVÄNI TSIZIK (2024)
The first part of the stage trilogy, Ystäväni Tsizik, premiered at the Helsinki Music Centre in January 2024, performed together with the Vantaa Pops Orchestra, the Grex Musicus choir, and soloists.
Story: Hammarberg, Salonen & Stein
Libretto: Hammarberg
Music: Salonen & Stein
Running time: 110 min
The Animagios project has been supported by the Kone Foundation, the Music Centre Foundation, Föreningen Konstsamfundet, and the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
SALONEN & STEIN
Duo Salonen & Stein invites listeners on a tonal excursion, where dances, styles, and topoi from the 18th century to the present day are weaved together into a multifaceted tapestry. Santte Salonen (soprano saxophone) and Joni Stein (piano) perform their own compositions, collaborative works, and arrangements of traditional music, always seeking surprising and fresh perspectives. The grammar of their musical dialogue draws on the musical traditions of Western Finland, modern tango, and Japanese popular music. Within this shared language, they create a narrative expression that is alive in the moment, ever-changing, and open to improvisation.
Salonen and Stein’s close artistic collaboration of many years began with their studies in folk music at the Sibelius Academy in 2014. Since then, they have worked together as composers, musicians, and scriptwriters on numerous projects, supported by, among others, the Kone Foundation, Föreningen Konstsamfundet, and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Duo Salonen & Stein has performed at festivals including Etno-Espa, Haapavesi Folk, and Puistokarkelot. They have also appeared in Italy at Villa Lante in Rome, as well as as soloists with the Haapavesi Chamber Orchestra and Oulunsalo Ensemble.
The work of duo Salonen & Stein has been supported by the Georg Malmstén Foundation and the Music Promotion Foundation.