Lauri Mäntysaari's solo accordion work Élégie (2020-2021) was forming into a serene, melancholic passacaglia, when the devastating news shocked the world: the iconic church of Notre-Dame was on fire. The composer decided to reform the plan for his work, going through purgatory towards a distant reminiscence of the earliest example of European musical polyhphony, first hear in Notre-Dame over 900 years ago: Vidrunt omnes by Perotin.

Lauri Mäntysaari (b. 1982 Helsinki) is known for his wide va...