Helsinki children born in 2020 and 2021 to experience the magic of music and theatre

Two organizations participating in the Culture Kids service are collaborating for the second time. Helsinki City Theatre, which serves as the cultural sponsor for Helsinki children born in 2021, and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, which serves as the cultural sponsor for children born in 2020, are jointly producing a performance of Peter and the Wolf for their Culture Kids. The production will be presented at the turn of September and October at the Helsinki Music Centre and on the Main Stage of Helsinki City Theatre.

“The new music composed by Jukka Nykänen is joyful, and orchestrator Marko Hilpo has guided it in a direction that keeps the audience engaged. Through the new songs, the story of Peter and the Wolf opens up from a fresh perspective,” says Jari Eskola, General Manager of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.

“Peter and the Wolf is a familiar story to many, and that is precisely why it has been fascinating to find our own perspective on it. We have explored what dance and movement can bring alongside the music and what new meanings they can open up within the story,” says director and choreographer Johanna Elovaara.

“The process has involved a great deal of play, experimentation, and shared discovery, and the entire creative team has thrown themselves into building and exploring this world. I believe that sense of curiosity and joy will also be conveyed to the audience.”

In addition to performances for the orchestra’s and theatre’s Culture Kids families, a public performance of Peter and the Wolf will be held in the Concert Hall of the Helsinki Music Centre on Thursday, 17 September, at 6:30 pm.

Peter and the Wolf

The joint work of the Helsinki City Theatre and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra pays homage to Prokofiev's original work while also introducing new music, dance and the magic of theatre.

It is morning on the farm where Pekka lives with his grandfather. Grandfather has already started work and the farm animals have also woken up. Pekka is a brave boy, but despite his grandfather's warnings, he does not always remember to close the gate. Such is the case also this morning. At least the duck living on the farm enjoys being allowed to bathe in the puddle outside the yard for once, but what happens when a wolf arrives from the surrounding forest? Fortunately, Pekka is not only brave but also witty, so there is no cause for alarm.

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Mikael Loponen, and the production is directed and choreographed by Johanna Elovaara. Sanna Niemeläinen is responsible for dramaturgy and has written the song lyrics. Set and costume design is by Elina Kolehmainen, and makeup design by Aino Hyttinen. Appearing on stage together with the orchestra are Satu Sopanen, Martti Manninen, Raili Raitala, and Pekka Louhio. New music for the work has been composed by Jukka Nykänen, with orchestration by Marko Hilpo.

Culture Kids

Culture Kids is a free cultural service for families living in Helsinki. Every child born in 2020 or after and living in Helsinki is sponsored by a cultural operator who can offer the child and their family personal experiences with the arts. The sponsor, determined according to the child’s year of birth, invites the child to at least two free-of-charge cultural events a year. The sponsorship continues until the child starts school. The events are planned taking the child's age into account and are suitable for all families. The Culture Kids service is administered by the City of Helsinki Culture and Leisure Division and made possible by a grant from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation.  

The sponsor for children born in 2020 and living in Helsinki is the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, who started its Culture Kids sponsorship activities 26 years ago. The programme has since been expanded to include almost 30 leading arts and culture operators together with the City of Helsinki. The Helsinki City Theatre is one of the sponsors for children born in 2021 and living in Helsinki. 

The purpose of the Culture Kids programme is to increase the wellbeing and equity of families living in Helsinki and to support the child's growth and development through the means of art and culture. The sponsored events provide a low threshold for locals to see, hear and experience their hometown and get to know its cultural venues. 

Families are invited to sign up for the Culture Kids programme by Helsinki’s maternity clinics, and they can sign up online at kummilapset.hel.fi.  

Public Performance of the Peter and the Wolf at Helsinki Music Centre, Concert Hall

Thursday, 17 September 2026 at 6:30 pm

Duration: approximately 45 minutes. Recommended age: 5+

Further Information:

Helsinki City Theatre, Kaisa Pelkonen, Communications Manager, kaisa.pelkonen@hkt.fi, +358 40 552 3788

Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Marja Istala Kumpunen, Communications and Public Relations Manager, marja.istalakumpunen@hel.fi, +358 50 555 3551

Culture Kids, Laura Arala, Specialist Planner for Children’s Culture, laura.arala@hel.fi, +358 40 162 6387