A poetic musical journey through the world of the beloved Finnish characters by author and illustrator Tove Jansson, composed by Lauri
Porra on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the first Moomin story.
Finnish composer Lauri Porra has been creating the musical world of the “Moomins” for many years. In
2025, the iconic characters created by Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson will celebrate their 80th anniversary. With “Seasons in Moominvalley”, Porra invites the Moomins’ vast international fanbase on a poetic journey through the seasons, forests, and beaches of Moominvalley. Featuring 21
atmospheric instrumental pieces for piano, string ensemble, or a combination of both (sometimes complemented by natural soundscapes), the album will be released on June 6, 2025, by Sony Classical, available in both physical and digital formats.
Each track refers to a specific scene from the books—for example, “A Song for the Sea” is inspired by Moominpappa standing near the water and
philosophizing about the sea’s temperament, while “A Song for Winter” reflects a scene where a character realizes that winter is the season for shy and
reserved animals and people to flourish.
The album is an official collaboration with Lauri Porra and Moomin Characters released by Sony Classical. Moomin Characters is the family-run company that preserves the cultural heritage of author and illustrator Tove Jansson by carefully licensing the Moomin stories and illustrations for special projects.
It will be available on CD with a booklet linking excerpts from the stories to the songs, and in a limited 180g picture vinyl edition. The vinyl edition includes four exclusive postcards, two high-quality lithographs
featuring Moomin-inspired artwork, and a special visual highlight: the so-called Zoetrope effect, which creates the illusion of animation when the record spins on a turntable.
About the Moomins
The Moomins are characters created by Finnish author Tove Jansson. The first story was published in 1945 and was strongly influenced by natural disasters and Jansson’s depression during the war years. Although certain parts of the stories can be melancholic, they spark hope, celebrate a close connection to nature, and nourish philosophical minds. As the novels gained increasing success in Finland and internationally, additional short stories, TV series, films, and even theme parks were created around the beloved tales from Moominvalley.
About Lauri Porra
Lauri Porra is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and curator. In addition to his long-standing collaboration with Moomin Characters Oy Ltd., his musical career is remarkably diverse. As the great-grandson of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, he has a deep passion for classical music. His compositions have been performed by renowned orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He also tours globally as the bassist for the metal band Stratovarius and serves as the artistic director of the Vantaa Orchestra. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the Unelmien Heinola Festival. From 2025 to 2027, Porra will serve as the artistic director of the Turku Music Festival.