Typically, Finnish musicians succeed by doing something highly unusual exceptionally well. Guitarist Petri Kumela is different because he’s done all kinds of things exceptionally well: Bach, flamenco, microtonal avant-garde, Fernando Sor on a period guitar and musical theatre. The career of Finland’s most fascinating classical guitarist is based on a do-it-yourself spirit and curiosity.

This album is in many ways a celebration of collaboration. All the concertos on the recording have been composed for Petri Kumela and he has already worked together a lot with each composer. Kumela has been actively involved in the composition processes of all concerts. Tapiola Sinfonietta and Dima Slobodeniouk are also familiar partners of Kumela.

This album portraits the Finnish composer Sebastian Hilli, born in 1990 and thus one of the youngest composers ever to be featured on a KAIROS release. Hilli's works have in common the composer's fascination with structure, dynamism and carefully crafted details. Throughout, his music is characterized by complex woven textures and nuanced sonorities, long-span processes and a flair for extra-musical topics. The Uusinta Ensemble performs a diverse selection of three of Hilli's works - this is certainly a composer to watch!