The Usedom Music Festival 2025 is starting. Three weeks of Finland on the Baltic Sea.

A press conference was held in Świnoujście announcing this year's Uznam Music Festival – one of the most important cultural events in the region and the only one of its kind with such a broad reach, annually connecting residents and visitors on both sides of the border. The press conference was attended by the Mayor of Świnoujście, Joanna Agatowska, and the festival's director, Thomas Hummel.

"For us, the festival is not just about music, but also a bridge between the cultures and people living on the Baltic Sea. This year, Finland will be present here in its full sound, from folk songs to the greatest works of Sibelius," Hummel emphasized, encouraging people to attend the concerts. Mayor Joanna Agatowska emphasized the importance of the event for the city itself. "This is a huge opportunity for our residents and guests to participate in events of the highest artistic standard, without having to travel to large metropolises," she said. "I encourage the residents of Świnoujście to attend the event held at the MDK Theatre Hall and take advantage of discounted tickets with the Islander and Senior Islander Card," she emphasized.

The theme of this year's festival is "What Does Finland Sound Like?" Organizers promise three weeks of musical journeys, where tradition and modernity, chamber sounds and monumental symphonic works, as well as music, literature, and art, will collide. Finland, the land of a thousand lakes and a rich culture, will be the main focus of this year's edition.

The festival's grand opening will take place on September 20th in the historic Peenemünde Power Plant, where the Baltic Philharmonic will perform under the baton of Joshua Weilerstein. The evening's soloist will be the young Finnish violinist Iidamari Ahonen, who will perform, among other pieces, Jean Sibelius's famous violin concerto. The opening concert at this venue always carries symbolic significance, combining music with reflection on history and the need for unity across borders.

This year's festival program is incredibly diverse. The day after the opening ceremony at the church in Liepe, audiences will hear Anna Morottaja, a Sami singer, presenting traditional songs from northern Lapland. Later that evening, the Mozart Piano Quartet will perform in Krummin, performing works by Brahms, Sibelius, and Hannikainen. The following festival days will see the stages filled with a wide variety of music. Heringsdorf will welcome Radu Ratoi, an accordionist whose craft has already been admired in New York, and Zinnowitz will feature melancholic Finnish tangos performed by an ensemble featuring Berlin Philharmonic double bassist Esko Laine.

In Świnoujście, the Finnish Baroque Orchestra will perform, taking listeners on a musical journey to the 17th century. In Peenemünde, music lovers will have the opportunity to admire soprano Camilla Nylund and the NDR Elbphilharmonie orchestra in a concert conducted by Susanna Mälkki. Finally, on October 11, the Helsinki University Men's Choir – one of the oldest and most recognizable choral ensembles in Finland – will perform at St. Peter's Church in Wolgast.

The festival, however, is not just about major concerts and world-renowned artists. The organizers have prepared a wide range of accompanying events. An exhibition dedicated to the Moomins, Tove Jansson's most famous literary characters, will open at Villa Irmgard in Heringsdorf. Music workshops will be held in schools across the island, and special concerts for the youngest will allow children to discover the world of instruments in an accessible and engaging format. There will also be literary encounters – audiences will hear excerpts from the novel "The Seven Brothers" by Alexis Kivi and contemporary Finnish short stories read by renowned actors.

The Usedom Music Festival also has a tradition of exploring various styles and forms. Therefore, the program includes classical songs, symphonic concerts, and more informal events – a reclining concert, where you can listen to music in complete relaxation, and open-air performances on the beach in Ahlbeck. The whole creates a rich image of Finland – a country whose culture goes far beyond the stereotypical images of the cold north.

Another important aspect of the event is its international dimension. Each year, the festival unites Poland and Germany, recalling the shared heritage of Pomerania and the Baltic Sea. "Usedom and Świnoujście are places where music transcends boundaries and builds community. I'm delighted that we can be a part of this event," concluded Mayor Joanna Agatowska.

The Usedom Music Festival will run from September 20th to October 11th. Over thirty concerts and accompanying events will take place over the three weeks. It's an opportunity to hear the biggest stars of the world music scene, while also discovering the lesser-known but equally fascinating sounds of Northern Europe.

(wb)