“I have the warmest memories from the Mänttä piano festival – besides the superb organisation, I was most of all struck by the audience: so warm, enthusiastic and knowledgable – their attention and palpable sense of excitement were really the best any pianist could wish for. And the beautiful surroundings of the hall definitely help! Both the gorgeous, quietly poetic nature all around, and the small yet exquisite art collection in the adjacent museum. Inspiration wherever you look…”
Memorable piano recitals surrounded by breathtaking art and nature
The internationally renowned Mänttä Music Festival is one of the crown jewels of piano festivals, organised annually in Finland. The programme is built around recitals that give the world’s most exciting pianists a unique way to approach the listeners.
Organised for the first time in 1999, the Mänttä Music Festival has enjoyed a continuous rise in popularity. The festival gathers together piano music enthusiasts from Finland and abroad.
The venue of the event, Serlachius Manor, is a museum known for its outstanding visual arts exhibitions and rich history, set amidst breathtaking lake scenery. Finnish nature is at its best around the time of the festival: at the end of July and beginning of August.
The committed staff and distinguished partners of the Mänttä Music Festival ensure a smooth production process and a successful visit for every artist.
Some of our guests from recent years
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Yulianna Avdeeva
Mariam Batsashvili
Seong-Jin Cho
Imogen Cooper
Jeremy Denk
Kirill Gerstein
Boris Giltburg
Richard Goode
Yulianna Avdeeva
Mariam Batsashvili
Seong-Jin Cho
Imogen Cooper
Jeremy Denk
Kirill Gerstein
Boris Giltburg
Richard Goode
Marc-André Hamelin
Angela Hewitt
Cyprien Katsaris
Elisabeth Leonskaja
Paul Lewis
Gabriela Montero
Tarmo Peltokoski
Beatrice Rana
Yeol-Eum Son
Angela Hewitt
Cyprien Katsaris
Elisabeth Leonskaja
Paul Lewis
Gabriela Montero
Tarmo Peltokoski
Beatrice Rana
Yeol-Eum Son
Professional production and impeccably thought-out details guarantee a pleasant visit
Our aim is to afford the artists a visit that is as enjoyable, effortless, and successful as possible.
The festival’s main concert venue is the Kivijärvi Hall at Serlachius Manor, and the acoustics in the 250-person hall are of the highest standard. Indeed, our recitals are noted for their unequalled, intimate atmosphere, with the tickets often sold out.
Thanks to our partnership with Steinway Piano Gallery Helsinki, the instrument in the concert hall is a Steinway D-274.
We provide a safe and environmentally friendly method of travelling, as a chauffeur driving one of the latest electric BMW models will collect the artist from the airport and bring them directly to Mänttä.
In Mänttä, they will find a high-class accommodation offering a perfect setting for an enjoyable visit. The hotel offers easy access to nature for a relaxing moment spent outside, either before or after the concert.
Mänttä – enchanting history and abundant cultural events
Mänttä is located in Central Finland, an approximately three-hour drive north from Helsinki.
Mänttä has a fascinating history as a significant industrial location and a home to the arts. The town emerged in the late 19th century round a paper factory founded by the Serlachius family, who were also known as patrons of the arts.
Today, Mänttä attracts visitors from both Finland and abroad with its abundant contributions to culture, including the Mänttä Music Festival, Mänttä Art Festival, and the highly regarded Serlachius Manor, featuring both classic and contemporary art.
Up-and-coming pianists a central element of the festival
Emerging talents are a central element of the fascinating host of artists at the Mänttä Music Festival. Denis Kozhukhin, Igor Levit, Anton Mejias, Tarmo Peltokoski, and many other young stars have played at Mänttä before their international breakthrough.
The Nordic Piano Academy organises an annual master class for young pianists during the Mänttä Music Festival, bringing together talented pianists of secondary and upper secondary school age from all the Nordic countries.
The artists performing at the Mänttä Music Festival also give master classes at the Nordic Piano Academy.
“I thought that the public was just so incredibly warm and soaking up everything I was giving. It felt so comfortable and so personal. I am incredibly moved by the place and the people and by what I felt today.”
More about your hosts, Anni and Niklas Pokki
The key individuals supporting the Mänttä Music Festival are Anni and Niklas Pokki, who are widely known and well-regarded in the piano world.
Niklas Pokki (DMus) is one of the founders of the festival and has been its Artistic Director from the very beginning. He is an internationally sought-after master class teacher, lecturer, and juror in piano competitions. Dr Pokki has performed as a piano soloist with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra and Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. He has played many broadcasted concerts and premiered works by Jean Sibelius, Erkki Melartin, Kalevi Aho, Osmo-Tapio Räihälä and Tõnu Kõrvits, among others. Niklas Pokki works as the Head of Piano Department at Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy and is the director of a talent education program, the Youth Piano Academy Finland.
Anni Pokki (MMus; MSc, Econ.) has been the Executive Director of Mänttä Music Festival since 2019. She is a pianist and cultural administration professional who also works as the Foundation Officer of the Sibelius Academy Foundation. Anni Pokki is the Vice Chair of the Board of the Instrument Academies Association (Soitinakatemiat ry.), which specialises in the education of young, talented musicians. She is also the Chair of the Organizing Committee of the next Helsinki International Maj Lind Piano Competition.
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More info
mantanmusiikkijuhlat.fi/en
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