Lahti Symphony Orchestra

The Lahti Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonia Lahti) was founded in 1949 to maintain the traditions of the orchestra established in 1910 by the society Lahti Friends of Music. In recent years the orchestra has developed into one of the most notable in the Nordic countries under the direction of its conductor Osmo Vänskä (chief guest conductor 1985-88, chief conductor since 1988). It has won the renowned Gramophone Award twice: in 1991 for its recording of the original version of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, a disc which also won other international accolades, and again in 1996 for its recordings of the original versions of Sibelius's Fifth Symphony and En Saga. Other awards include the Grand Prix of the Académie Charles Cros (1993) for the orchestra´s recording of the complete score to Sibelius's Tempest and the Cannes Classical Award (1997) for its recordings of Sibelius's Wood-Nymph and original version of the Fifth Symphony. As well as playing regularly in symphony concerts, opera performances and recordings, the orchestra has an extensive development programme for children's and youth music.

Sinfonia Lahti presents weekly concerts and from the March of 2000 the orchestra´s new home will be the purpose-built Sibelius Hall in Lahti. The orchestra has concerts also in the Church of the Cross (Alvar Aalto, 1978); this church ishas been the venue for the orchestra´s recordings. The orchestra appears regularly in Helsinki and has performed at numerous festivals including the Helsinki Festival, the Helsinki Biennale (contemporary music), the Lahti International Organ Week and the Stockholm New Music festival. The orchestra has toured in Japan, New York, England, Germany, France and Spain and has also performed in St. Petersburg. Future plans include concerts in other European countries and new concerts in Japan and New York.

The Lahti Symphony Orchestra records regularly for BIS. Recent releases include the original versions of Sibelius's Fifth Symphony and En Saga (BIS-CD-800), The Wood-Nymph, the sensational world première recording of a major, newly rediscovered tone poem by Sibelius (BIS-CD-815) and a complete cycle of Sibelius symphonies (Nos.1 and 4: BIS-CD-861; Nos.2 and 3: BIS-CD-862; original and final versions of No.5: BIS-CD-863; Nos.6 and 7, Tapiola: BIS-CD-864). Among the orchestra's many recordings of modern Finnish music are the complete orchestral works of Joonas Kokkonen - one of Finland's biggest recording projects - and several ongoing series of recordings featuring music by Uuno Klami, Einojuhani Rautavaara and by the orchestra's composer-in-residence since 1992, Kalevi Aho. With these recordings the Lahti Symphony Orchestra has established itself as a major force in the interpretation of Finnish music.

For further information about Lahti Symphony Orchestra can be found at http://www.lahti.fi/Symphony

One of the successful Finnish conductors, Osmo Vänskä, completed his studies in conducting at the Sibelius-Academy in Helsinki under prof. Jorma Panula in 1979. Osmo Vänskä has furthered his studies with other conductors such as Rafael Kubelik and Paavo Berglund.

Osmo Vänskä's career started when he won the International Young Conductors' Competition in Besançon, France, in 1982. He has conducted all the major Scandinavian orchestras and made guest appearances in most European countries as well as in Japan and United States. Mr Vänskä made his very successful debut in London, August 1995, at the Proms with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and in New York at the Carnegie Hall with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in February 1996 and with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra at the Lincoln Center in 1999. Osmo Vänskä is now increasingly in demand to guest conduct internationally: Invitations include during 2000 - 2001 e.g. Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Orchestra Nationale de France.

Since 1988 Osmo Vänskä is chief conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in Finland. This youthful orchestra has attained artistic triumphs in concerts and recordings under the baton of Osmo Vänskä. Their recordings for the Swedish BIS label include e.g. the unique recording of the original version of the Sibelius Violin Concerto with Lahti Symphony and the violinist Leonidas Kavakos. This recording won the Gramophone Award for Best Concerto Recording of the Year 1991. Another celebrated CD is the first ever complete recording of the Tempest by Jean Sibelius which was awarded the Prix Academie Charles Cros in Paris in March 1993. The original version of the Sibelius Symphony No 5 and En Saga won the Gramophone Award 1996 and Cannes Classical Award 1996, as well as The Sibelius Wood-Nymph.

Mr Vänskä's appointment as chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra was published in January 1996. Vänskä has done also with this orchestra successful concerts as well as in Scotland, London, Amsterdam and Berlin. Osmo Vänskä has been chief conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in 1993-96 and of the Tapiola Sinfonietta in 1990-1992. He was artistic director of the Crusell Festival in 1988-92.

Osmo Vänskä also is wellknown as an excellent clarinettist - before starting his career as a conductor he was principal clarinettist of the Helsinki Philharmonic orchestra. Despite his busy schedule Osmo Vänskä each year spends some time playing the clarinet as a soloist and as a chamber musician.