Laura Hynninen: Botaurus stellaris

Award-winning harpist and composer Laura Hynninen takes her instrument’s expressive range to a new level. In Hynninen’s hands, the beautiful harp reveals menacing, animalistic, and fierce dimensions; electronics and Hynninen’s own voice are also part of this surprising soundscape. The themes of her works draw from nature and emotions that can only be expressed through music. Classical virtuosity, bold and imaginative use of sound, and an original musical language come together on this album to form a unique whole.

Botaurus stellaris is an extraordinary sound journey that bridges natural mysteries and deep humanity. The opening track, Tuliketun jäljillä (In the Footsteps of the Fire Fox), explores ancient Finnish legends of the Northern Lights, utilizing a harp prepared with a shoelace threaded between strings to achieve the sound of fox paws. Commissioned by the Lux Musicae festival, Maa ja virtaavat vedet (Earth and Flowing Waters) captures the interaction of earth's moving elements, describing the interfaces between permanence and movement. Lammella (At the Pond) pauses at the border between the earthly world and the underworld, while the playful Fuugaguuf turns into its own mirror image halfway through, forming a musical palindrome.

Personal connections run deep throughout the program: the compositions Tanssija (The Dancer) and the title track Botaurus stellaris are dedicated to Hynninen's daughters. Even the theme of death is treated with a light-hearted, henkäyksenkeveä touch in Henkien kulkue (Procession of Spirits), where the spirits of four people pass the listener. The core philosophy of the album radiates goodness—symbolized by the yellow lantern in the cover artwork, illuminating the path with a flame of compassion that flickers but never goes out.
"In a live concert, I make all sounds during the performance, I don't use any pre-recorded backing tracks ever. I create layers myself with a looper... In addition to the looper, I have small kitchen utensils with me (an egg slicer, a bottle, wet kitchen paper) which I use to enrich the sound world."

A graduate of the Sibelius Academy, Laura Hynninen has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe, Japan, and the USA. She has held permanent positions as principal harpist with both the Finnish National Opera and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In her solo projects, Hynninen fuses music and visual art in a unique signature style, earning prominent accolades including the Yle Record of the Year Award, Emma Award nominations, the Pro Musica Award 2024, and the Indie Award 2025.

FORMAT: CD