A TOP Finnish pianist is to give her British debut recital at the Wharf, Tavistock — thanks to a friendship involving local composer Adrian Vernon Fish.
Suvi Niemi will perform at the town's arts centre on Friday, December 10 after accepting his invitation to come to West Devon.
'I have never met her but her sister is the girlfriend of one of my eskimo friends,' he said.
She was studying eskimology and Adrian met her during one of his visits to Greenland.
'It was through her I discovered her sister was a great pianist. Suvi had never been in Britain so I asked if she would like me to organise a concert.'
The Finnish pianist has done her share of playing at large concert halls but was happy to come to a small regional venue like the Wharf.
Her Tavistock recital will include works by Rachmaninov, Chopin, Grieg. Suvi's concert will also include a performance of Adrian Vernon Fish's 'Kitsissuarsuit' — a work inspired by a Greenland trip he made in 1995.
'It is a very quiet reflective piece — a little bit icy but with a bit of human warmth,' said Adrian.
'I premiered the piece in Greenland in 1996 and that is how Suvi got to hear about it because her sister who recorded the concert sent the tape to her,' he said.
A former student at the famous Moscow Conservatoire she has given recitals throughout the world from Japan to Ireland — but has never performed in Britain.
Born in the arctic city of Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, the international pianist is now based in Helsinki.
The recital begins at 8pm. Tickets from Wharf box office (01822) 611166 are £8 (£7 concessions).