Violinist Kreeta-Maria Kentala is a pioneer in the Finnish movement for early music. She’s at home as a soloist, a leader and a pedagogue of Baroque, Classical, Romantic music as well as folk music. She regularly gives concerts as a solo artist, a member of chamber music projects, and as a soloist, concertmaster and a leader of an orchestra.

Kreeta-Maria studied violin in the Central Ostrobothnia school of music with esteemed teachers such as Mauno Järvelä, Juha Kangas and Kaija Saarikettu. From there she advanced to Sibelius Academy and on to Edsberg music school to Jennifer and Endre Wolf’s group. A master class arranged at Edsberg introduced her to Reinhard Goebel, whom she followed to Cologne to study Baroque music. Kreeta-Maria also studied Baroque music on various master classes and collaborative projects under the guidance of Baroque violinist Monica Huggett.

In the course of her career Kreeta-Maria has had the opportunity to work as an orchestra musician in the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and as a Baroque musician in the Musica Antiqua Köln ensemble. Kreeta-Maria is also active as a pedagogue – it seems a passion for teaching is a hereditary trait in her family. She teaches musicians specializing in Baroque music in Novia, Pietarsaari University of Applied Sciences. Furthermore, she’s very much in demand as a trainer for orchestral musicians and instrument pedagogues, especially in the musical styles of Baroque, Classicism and early Romantic era. Previously Kreeta-Maria as also worked as a lecturer for violin in the Länsi-Helsinki school of music and as a Baroque music lecturer in the Sibelius Academy.

Kreeta-Maria is the leader figure of several regularly touring ensembles. She’s a member of the Rantatie string quartet, specialising in period instruments, the Jouheva ensemble and the folk Baroque ensemble SAMA who combine Baroque with folk and new music. She’s also a member of The Jones Band that plays less familiar and more unusual Baroque sonatas, and Barocco Boreale, who tour the western coast of Finland and spread knowledge of early music. One of Kreeta-Maria’s favorite tasks is drawing up and playing concert repertoire consisting of unknown composers and music that rarely gets performed. She also loves merging different genres together: Baroque goes very well together with folk music or a brand new modern piece of music.

Recordings Kreeta-Maria has made as a chamber musician and a soloist have gathered great acclaim in Finland and abroad. She’s received three Emma Awards, a Janne Award from the Finnish AV producers and two the Album of the Year awards of the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. In the year 2016 The Arts Promotion Centre Finland granted Kreeta-Maria a five-year artist grant for the years 2017–2021.

As a Kaustinen-born folk musician from both her mother and her father’s side, Kreeta-Maria has played folk music from a very early age, and the highly active musical life in her hometown is close to Kreeta-Maria’s heart. She was the artistic leader of the Kaustinen Chamber Music Week in the years 2010-2012, and the chair of Kaustinen Folk Musician Association in the years 2013–2016. She is currently active in the Folk Musician Association as a board member as well as in arranging folk music jam sessions.

Kreeta-Maria Kentala (kuva: Ulla Nikula)

Soloprojects

Konsta Jylhä: Walz for Jaana & J.S. Bach: Giga, Partita D Minor

Kreeta-Maria works as a chamber musician, concertmaster-leader and a pedagogue, but in addition to these she also features as a soloist with different orchestras and ensembles and performs in her own solo violin concerts. Her violin concerto repertoire includes works from Bach, Vivaldi, Leclair, Roman, Tulindberg, Ferling, Pichl, Mozart and Haydn. More infos →

Teaching and Barock Ostrobothnia

Unico Willem van Wassenaer: Concerto Armonico no 3 A major (Kimito Island Music Festival 13.7.2013)

Kreeta-Maria has a keenness for teaching and tutoring quite obviously running in the family. This has spurred her on to work as lecturer for violin in the Länsi-Helsinki school of music and as a Baroque violin lecturer at the Sibelius Academy.
More infos →

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Albums

Tulevat tapahtumat / Upcoming events

02/06/2018 Helsingin Barokkiorkesteri: Maahanmuuttajasäveltäjien musiikkia Karjalohjan kirkko, Karjalohja
03/06/2018 Helsingin Barokkiorkesteri: Maahanmuuttajasäveltäjien musiikkia Musiikkitalo, Camerata-sali, Helsinki
17/06/2018 Tupamusiikkia kahdella viululla Vähä-Kyörin pappila, Pälkäne
30/06/2018 Side by side Flagey, Studio 1, Place Sainte-Croix, Ixelles, Belgia

Menneet tapahtumat / Past events

22/04/2018 Barokkia ja pelimanneja Klassinen Hietsu, Hietsun paviljonki, Helsinki
10/04/2018 Perä- ja sivukamarimusiikkia kaustislaisittain Ravintola Pelimanni, Kaustinen
01/04/2018 Rantatie-kvartetti Hetan musiikkipäivät, päätöskonsertti, Enontekiön kirkko, Enontekiö
30/03/2018 Rantatie-kvartetti: Mozart, Csermak Hetan musiikkipäivät, Juhlsin hopeapaja, Koutokeino, Norja
29/03/2018 Rantatie-kvartetti: Päiväkotikonsertti Hetan musiikkipäivät
29/03/2018 Stabat mater, Rantatie-kvartetti Hetan musiikkipäivät, Enontekiön kirkko, Enontekiö
28/03/2018 Rantatie-kvartetti: Koulukonsertteja Hetan musiikkipäivät, Kilpisjärven koulu ja Karesuvannon koulu
26/03/2018 Rantatie-kvartetti: Tulindberg, Haydn, Mozart Hetan musiikkipäivät, Haaparanta, Ruotsi
14/03/2018 14.-15.3. Barokkikurssi Keski-Pohjanmaan konservatorio, Kokkola
04/03/2018 Biberin mysteerisonaatit Olarin kirkko, Espoo
23/02/2018 Tampere Filharmonia: Sota ja rauha Fuxin ja Händelin tapaan Tuomiokirkko, Tampere
10/02/2018 Pohjanmaan nuoret sinfonikot Schauman-sali, Pietarsaari
09/02/2018 Pohjanmaan nuoret sinfonikot Kokkola
28/01/2018 Barocco Boreale Kaustisen kamarimusiikkiviikko, Kaustinen
16/01/2018 Barokin ja kansanmusiikin tanssahtelevat tyylit Oulun Vanhan Musiikin festivaali, Pyhän Andreaan kirkko, Oulu
07/01/2018 7.-9.1. The Jones Band, levytys Kaustisen kirkko, Kaustinen
26/11/2017 Rantatie-kvartetti: Tulindberg Vähänkyrön kirkko, Vähäkyrö
21/11/2017 21.-25.11. RUSK 5! -festivaali Pietarsaari
15/11/2017 Rantatie-kvartetti Ilta Erkkolassa, Taiteilijakoti Erkkola, Tuusula
05/11/2017 Savonlinnan orkesteri: Kirkkomusiikkiviikon päätöskonsertti Savonlinnan Tuomiokirkko, Savonlinna
19/10/2017 Tunne orkesterisi-yleisöluento Paavo-sali, Musiikkitalo, Helsinki
11/10/2017 11.-13.10. G. F. Händel: Alcina Vaasa Baroque, Vaasan kaupungintalon juhlasali, Vaasa
24/09/2017 Barocco Boreale & Teppo Lampela: Jubilate domine! – reformaation musiikkia ennen Bachia Törnävän kirkko, Seinäjoki
17/09/2017 17.-21.9. The Jones Band, recording Kaustisen kirkko, Kaustinen
15/09/2017 The Jones Band Kaustisen kirkko, Kaustinen
12/09/2017 Kreeta-Maria Kentala & Aapo Häkkinen Keski-Pohjanmaan maakuntaliiton vuosijuhla, Snellman-sali, Kokkola
10/09/2017 Kreeta-Maria Kentala & Aapo Häkkinen Korpirastas-juhla, Keuruun ala-asteen juhlasali, Keuruu

  • The playing is utterly captivating, from the micro-tuning and varied attack of Kentala’s violin to the theatricality of Mitzi Meyerson’s continuo realizations.

    International Record Review / Simon Heighes

  • She is a stylist violinist who mixes a clean, often sweetly singing line with tasteful ornamentation in the slow first movements, picks up the pace with energetic, athletic and well-articulated Allegro central movements and captures the spirit of the dance-oriented finales.

    The Strad / Robin Stowell

  • Barokkispesialisti Kentala oli onnistunut kokoamaan orkesterin rivit yhdeksi, innokkaasti musiikkia tuottavaksi ryhmäksi. Hän johti musisointia konserttimestarin paikalta viuluaan tarmokkaasti heilutellen, mutta koin yhtyesoiton onnistumisen olleen enemmän Kentalan oman suggestiivisen soiton ja hänen tarttuvien näkemystensä ansiota.

    Kouvolan Sanomat / Jukka Kumpulainen

  • Kentala’s violin playing is suave and nimble, with touches of sly wit and copious ornamentation … well worth hearing.

    International Record Review

  • The violinist [Kreeta-Maria Kentala] plays cleanly with a strong sound … her ornamentation is plentiful but tasteful. The recorded balance between the instruments is good and tempos well chosen. As I said, strongly recommended.

    Early Music Review

  • Kreeta-Maria Kentala ja orkesteri pöllyttivät musiikkia rohkein äänenpainoin. Händelin Ilotulitusmusiikin Menuetti tanssi reippaalla ’kolpakot yhteen, veljet’ -otteella, ja Bachin E-duuri-viulukonsertto svengasi pelimannisoiton rempseydellä. Teosten nopeiden osien tempot olivat ajoittain huiman virtuoosisia.

    Kouvolan Sanomat / Jukka Kumpulainen

  • The Jones Band’s creative thirst brings the music to life. The recording is luminous and sensitively balanced.

    The Strad / Robin Stowell

  • [Richard Jones has] found ideal interpreters in the charismatic ‘Jones Band’ … Very vividly recorded, as befits the music. A rare and exquisite find.
     

    International Record Review / Simon Heighes

  • Olisi tehnyt mieli raivata tuolit Turun linnan salista seinän viereen ja tanssia, kun Kreeta-Maria Kentala soitti viulullaan räväköitä polskia Ville Kankaan kompatessa buzukillaan … Ohjelmassa barokkisonaatit ja muut barokkiajan taidemusiikiksi assosioituvat sävellykset elivät rinta rinnan kansanmusiikkikappaleiden kanssa … Kreeta-Maria Kentalalla kansanmusiikki on veressä, kun isoisäkin oli pelimanni. Kreeta-Marialla rempseään pelimannihenkeen yhdistyy vielä vankka koulutus ja osaaminen, kaikki on “just eikä melkeen”.

    Turun Sanomat / Aija Haapalainen

  • Kreeta-Maria Kentala’s interpretations of this six significant but unfairly neglected repertoire are intelligent and imaginative.

    The Strad / Robin Stowell

  • Tulkinnan muotoilu, värisävyjen ja tempojen valinnat – radikaalisuudestaan huolimatta – kuvasivat hämmästyttävän elävästi käsiohjelmaan painetun tekstin sisältöä. Kentalan spontaani rohkeus ornamenttien improvisoinnissa toi konserttiin ainutlaatuisen ja arvokkaan lisän – liekö solistin kaustislaisella taustalla osuutta asiaan. Koko konsertille antoi leimansa perinpohjainen tyylintuntemus ja Kreeta-Maria Kentalan voimakas, jälleenluova tahto.

    Keskipohjanmaa / Niina Konka

  • The pointedly rhetorical playing of Kreeta-Maria Kentala pins us to our seats: can this really be music by a bewigged Georgian? The constant variety of the music keeps us on our toes throughout.

    International Record Review / Simon Heighes

  • Kreeta-Maria Kentala häikäisi taitavuudellaan barokkiviulun soitossa … Kentalan musisointi ja artikulaatio ei ollut pelkästään opittua, vaan siinä oli vahva henkilökohtaisen kokemisen ja tekemisen leima.

    Savon Sanomat / Jussi Karpansalo

  • There’s an extraordinary cadenza towards the end of the finale of the Ferling Concerto, which Kentala plays with great wit and flair, turning what might have descended into mere pyrotechnical display into enchanting flights of inspiration.

    The Strad / Julian Haylock

  • Jos Ferling on soittanut [viulukonserttonsa] läheskään niin säihkyvästi ja taiturillisesti kuin Kreeta-Maria Kentala, hän on ansainnut maineensa ajan ylivertaisena ruotsalaisena viulistina … konserton soolokadenssit yllättivät tyylikkyydellään ja puhuttelevuudellaan, mutta nepä olivatkin solistin omia luomuksia. … Kentalan suvereeni esitys olikin konsertin kohokohta.

    Helsingin Sanomat / Olavi Kauko

  • The performances are, in the main, impressive. The overall sound is good and Kreeta-Maria Kentala plays with lively expression, introducing imaginative decoration, especially in the adagios. And she’s very well supported. 

    Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2014

  • Kreeta-Maria Kentala saa musiikin molemmat puolet kauniiseen balanssiin. Rytmi svengaa eteenpäin, mutta pysähtyy herkuttelemaan, kun on sen aika. Samoin melodiat kaartuvat kauniina, mutta saavat kimmellystä hyvinkin rikkaasta koristelusta.

    Yle Radio 1 / Kare Eskola

  • I confess to having snoozed through a few discs of Baroque violin sonatas in my time, but here I found myself repeatedly reaching for the remote control to play tracks again.

    International Record Review / Simon Heighes

  • Härliga Kreeta-Maria Kentala spelade kvällens konserter med schvung och humor och improviserade, som sig bör, friskt i kadenserna.

    Hufvudstadsbladet / Mats Liljeroos

  • Kreeta-Maria Kentala, a one-time pupil of both Reinhard Goebel and Monica Hugget, is a stunning player, closer to the latter in both temperament and sound. Only those totally averse to period instruments could be anything less than enchanted by Kentala’s ear-tweaking inventiveness and sensitive phrasing.

     

    The Strad / Julian Haylock

  • “Kreeta-Maria Kentala tuli, soitti ja valloitti. Hänen liidaamansa barokkikonsertti oli lyhyesti sanoen herkullista kuultavaa.”

     

    Kouvolan Sanomat / Jukka Kumpulainen

 

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Kreeta-Maria Kentala
+358 40 565 9803
info ( at ) kreetamariakentala.fi