Rare Nordic string instruments come together for unique concerts at Fuuga
Rare instruments from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and Norway’s Dextra Musica will be heard for the first time in joint concerts. In Turku, 2,600 audience members can attend free of charge while experiencing the magnificent setting and acoustics of the newly opened Music Centre Fuuga. The concerts are organised in collaboration with the Turku Music Festival and Fuuga.
Rare instruments and leading musicians from Finland and Norway will be featured in two free concerts at the newly opened Music Centre Fuuga in Turku on Sunday 29 November 2026 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Further concerts will follow in Oslo, Norway, in January 2027.
The concerts are organised by the Finnish Cultural Foundation and Dextra Musica, which own the most significant collections of instruments available for musicians in their respective countries. This marks a historic moment in Nordic collaboration, bringing instruments from the two collections together in a concert programme for the first time.
“Instrument collections are an immensely important resource for musicians and the international music scene. Through cooperation between the foundations, we aim to highlight the role of instrument collections and reveal their significance to audiences. At the same time, we are creating new forms of Nordic collaboration in the cultural field,” says Susanna Pettersson, CEO of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
In the concert, the audience will hear instruments that are famous throughout the world of classical music. The Finnish Cultural Foundation and Dextra Musica’s collections include violins built by Antonio Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri. This concert offers a rare opportunity to hear these centuries-old instruments in the hands of today’s leading musicians. The artistic planning for the concerts is by Eldbjørg Hemsing and Abel Puustinen.
“We are delighted to be part of this unique collaboration between Finland and Norway. When the fine instruments in our collections are played by outstanding musicians, we celebrate both musical heritage and the future of Nordic cultural cooperation,” says Anders Bjørnsen, Head of Arts and Culture, Sparebankstiftelsen DNB / Dextra Musica.
A total of 2,600 music lovers can attend the concerts at Turku’s Music Centre Fuuga free of charge. Members of the Finnish Violin Makers’ Guild will be present with their instruments, giving audiences an opportunity to learn about Finnish violin making.
Up to two tickets per person can be reserved via the Fuuga website from 1 October 2026 at 9 a.m.
An instrument can play a decisive role in a musician’s career
Top-tier instruments are usually beyond the means of individual musicians. However, to achieve a high artistic level and succeed in international competition, musicians need the best possible tools. For many, borrowing an instrument has been a crucial step towards an international career.
The instrument collections of the Finnish Cultural Foundation and Dextra Musica are major players not only in the Nordic countries, but also on a global scale. Dextra Musica’s collection comprises almost 150 instruments, while the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s collection contains approximately 60. Both foundations lend instruments to both established artists and emerging young musicians.
Concert Information
Immeasurably precious – From folk songs to courtly dance
Musiikkitalo Fuuga, Turku
Sunday 29 November 2026 at 2 p.m.
Free admission; Up to two tickets per person can be reserved via the Fuuga website from 1 October 2026 at 9 a.m.
Immeasurably precious – The primordial power of music
Musiikkitalo Fuuga, Turku
Sunday 29 November 2026 at 5 p.m.
Free admission; Up to two tickets per person can be reserved via the Fuuga website from 1 October 2026 at 9 a.m.
