Cupido

Cupido is a large-scale concerto for clarinet, lights, acrobatics and chamber orchestra, commissioned in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Finnish artist Reidar Särestöniemi’s birth. It is a work both dedicated to Reidar and inspired by his art, his personality and life, and the love-filled letters he wrote to the poet Yrjö Kaijärvi. 

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The central themes of the piece are love and passion. Its title draws from classical mythology, echoing Reidar’s own fascination with mythical beings. Cupid, the Roman god of love, symbolizes desire, attraction, and affection.

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Reidar’s passion touched every part of his life — his deep connection to northern nature and animals, the vibrant and expressive power of his art, his relationship with Yrjö, and his joyful approach to living. I felt a deep connection to the way Reidar described his approach to his art:  ”In my paintings, there is only myself. They hold my happiness and my pain, my unfulfilled longing, my entire life.”

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This reflection became a guiding light in my own creative process. The duality of love — its joy and its sorrow — remains at the heart of the piece. These opposing forces shape and colour the entire work.

The movements, which are separated by cadenzas by the soloists, are:

I Kielto ja kaipaus (The forbidden and the longing)
II Kevään lempeä tuulahdus (The gentle breeze of spring)
III Sanasi, Rakastan ja kaipaan Sinua, saa minut villiksi (Your words, I love you and long for you, make me wild)
IV Maan päällä ja taivaassa (On earth and in heaven)

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The first movement expresses solitude, longing, and, to some extent, pain.​ Its title is drawn from Reidar’s painting of the same name, which depicts two embracing bears. The bears symbolize both strength and power, as well as loneliness and isolation. In some cultures, the bear is a symbol of masculinity, and universally, the animal is associated with love. The painting brings to light Reidar’s deep longing and desire to express love — feelings that stood in direct conflict with the laws and societal norms of his time.

The second movement captures the sense of infatuation, along with the lightness and renewed hope that spring brings. Reidar often depicted his inner world through the changing seasons, and in a letter to Yrjö, he described his feelings for him by calling himself “the gentle breeze of spring.”

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The third movement reflects intense passion, with its title drawn directly from one of Reidar’s letters to Yrjö.

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The fourth movement evokes deep and eternal love, intertwined with a sense of loss.

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Yrjö Kaijärvi passed away in 1971, the same year that homosexuality was decriminalized in Finland, although it was still classified as a mental illness until 1981.

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In 1971, Reidar painted the diptych Maan päällä ja taivaassa (On Earth and in Heaven), a public declaration of love to Yrjö. In the second part of the diptych, their love continues in Heaven, where both men are shown with wings and rejuvenated. This imagery embodies the essence of Cupido, reflecting the transcendent nature of love.