RISING FINNS TO PROVIDE FLOURISH.

Byline: Marla Matzer Daily News Staff Writer

Are you Finnished yet? You will be if you attend this summer's Ojai Music Festival, which celebrates Finnish music and musicians. Don't laugh - according to festival organizers, Finland has only 5 million people, but 29 symphony orchestras. You may also have heard of native sons Jean Sibelius and Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Salonen will be featured as both a conductor and composer at the festival. Other highlights of the June 4-6 main festival include two U.S. premieres of pieces by this year's composer-in-residence, Finn Magnus Lindberg, and two performances by renowned American soprano Dawn Upshaw.

The festival, now in its 53rd year, has often championed adventurous, contemporary programming. It's also very affordable, if you're willing to sit on the lawn at the Libbey Bowl or attend some of the more offbeat events.

This year, members of the Finnish avant garde/jazz-influenced Toimii Ensemble will perform at two Sundowner Concerts at the Ojai Art Center, next to the bowl. Tickets for these performances cost just $5 per person, open seating; an art exhibit of contemporary Finnish glasswork and ceramics on June 2 (which continues through the month) is free (call 805-646-0117 for information; for opening night reservations, call 805-646-2094).

Tickets to the main events at the Libbey Bowl start at $12 for lawn seating and range up to $42 per ticket for the best seats. Full series tickets range from $60 (lawn) to $198. A few words of warning: Daytime concerts in the June sun can get very hot on the lawn. And, unlike at the Hollywood Bowl, alcohol is not officially allowed (though patrons have been known to practice artful disguise).

Below is a list of the main concerts. To order tickets, call 805-646-2053.

June 4: At 8:15 p.m. Salonen conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic, soprano Dawn Upshaw and cellist Anssi Karttunen. Salonen: ``Giro'' (U.S. premiere). Lindberg: cello concerto (U.S. premiere). Salonen: ``Sappho Fragments'' (world premiere) Sibelius: Symphony No. 1.

June 5: At 10 a.m. there is a special family concert. Salonen introduces and directs the Toimii Ensemble in ``Toimii Goes Opera.'' (Note: This concert is open seating, flat price of $6 per adult. Children under 17 attend free with voucher.) At 3 p.m. is a recital by pianist Olli Mustonen, playing preludes and fugues by Bach and Shostakovich. At 8:30 p.m. Salonen conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, cellist Anssi Karttunen and trumpeter Thomas Stevens. Program includes Berio: Kol-Od for Trumpet and Ensemble (U.S. premiere), Saariaho's ``Amers'' and Adams' chamber symphony.

June 6: At 11 a.m. there is a recital by soprano Upshaw (piano accompanist and program to be announced). At 5:30 p.m. Salonen conducts the Toimii Ensemble and pianist Olli Mustonen, performing Schumann's piano quintet and Lindberg's ``Kraft'' (U.S. premiere).