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OrchestrasFinnish orchestra scene is vivid and full of energy, and acclaimed for it's high quality and skill. We have 12 professional orchestras, one opera orchestra, 10 chamber- and semi-professional orchestras, and many many other orchestras and ensembles. Not bad for a five million people population - it just shows how artistic people Finns are! OK, OK, you propably came here to meet the orchestras, and not to read some "column fill", so here are the current members of the Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras:
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Professional orchestrasThe Orchestra of Finnish National Opera The orchestra of Finnish National Opera has a beautiful opera house in the heart of Helsinki, where they give over 200 opera performances a year. Opera orchestra gives also symphony concerts, tours whenever it can, and has recorded most of the Finnish opera literature. Currently they have 112 musicians, their chief conductor is Okko Kamu. Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra The Helsinki Philharmonic perform in the city's Finlandia Hall, designed by Alvar Aalto, where they give more than 60 concerts each year. In addition to regular concert activities, the HPO is busy with foreign tours, recordings, and joint projects with radio and television. Leif Segerstam conducts their 98 players. Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra The FRSO (founded 1927) is a national symphony orchestra the core activities of which consist of concerts in Helsinki, recordings for radio, Finnish and foreign tours, appearances at Finnish music festivals and as accompanist in music competitions. It has a repertoire encompassing the standard classic-romantic works, new and Finnish music, and it annually commissions and performs works by Finnish composers. The 98 musicians perform more than 50 live broadcast concerts a year. Their own conductors are Jukka-Pekka Saraste (chief), and Sakari Oramo (co-principal). Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, currently comprising 92 players, was
founded in 1930 and since 1947 it has been maintained by the City of Tampere.
The artistic director since August 1998 is Eri Klas. The Tampere Philharmonic
has its home in the Tampere Hall (built 1990, the biggest concert and congress
centre in Finland), performing in the large 1,800-seat hall. The orchestra runs
a symphony and a chamber music series, acts as the regular orchestra for
Tampere Opera, and regularly features at the Tampere Biennale. Turku Philharmonic Orchestra The roots of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra go back to 1790, when the Turku Music Society was founded. It also meant the start of regular orchestral activity in Finland. The orchestra became a municipal institution in 1927. At that time, there were 27 musicians. Today the Turku Philharmonic is, with its 73 musicians, the fourth largest symphony orchestra in Finland. Lahti Symphony Orchestra Lahti Symphony Orchestra was municipalized in 1949 to maintain orchestral tradition in Lahti originating from 1910. Under the direction of conductor Osmo Vänskä (Chief Guest Conductor 1985-1988, Artistic Director 1988-1998), the orchestra has in recent years developed into one of the most notable in the Nordic countries. Among its achievements are the Gramophone Award (1991) and the Grand Prix du Disque (1993) for its recordings of Sibelius. The orchestra has also won other international awards for a number of its recordings. They currently have 59 musicians with Osmo Vänskä as Conductor and Joseph Swensen as Principal Guest Conductor. Founded 1937, Oulu City Orchestra has been an important part of musical life in northern Finland. With its 53 musicians, the orchestra takes part in the annual opera productions staged in collaboration with the Oulu Opera, City Theatre and Conservatoire. It has also appeared at music festivals held in the city. Since 1983 the orchestra has been rehearsing and performing in the Madetoja Hall. Oulu City Orchestra is conducted by Arvo Volmer. Kuopio City Orchestra The first 'Hause' orchestra founded in Kuopio with 13 players was in 1909 taken over by the Kuopio Friends of Music established in 1894. The number of players was raised to 23, being further augmented by players from the garrison band following Finland's independence in 1917. This successful alliance came to an end in 1963, when the North Savo Brigade moved from Kuopio to Kajaani. Negotiations between local music lovers and the City of Kuopio soon led to the foundation of a professional orchestra of 14 musicians, supplemented by visitors for symphony concerts. The orchestra became a municipal institution in 1976. Currently, Kuopio City Orchestra is conducted by Atso Almila. Tapiola Sinfonietta (Espoo City Orchestra) Tapiola Sinfonietta (Espoo City Orchestra) made its debut in February 1988 and quickly established a profile of its own in the musical life of the Helsinki region. So far its international reputation has been founded on its recordings, since it has not had been able to make more than a few visits abroad. Tapiola Sinfonietta released its first CD in 1989 and had by 1996 made a good dozen or so. The orchestra's Artistic Directors have been Jorma Panula, Juhani Lamminmäki, Osmo Vänskä and, since autumn 1993, the Frenchman Jean-Jacques Kantorow. Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra The first season of regular concerts in Jyväskylä was in 1949, when the orchestra of the Jyväskylä Music College was founded. This was later developed into an independent orchestra maintained by Jyväskylä Orchestra Society in 1955 and became a municipal orchestra later that year. Finland's first and only symphony orchestra in the form of a corporation came into being in spring 1988. It has 36 musicians and performs in the Jyväskylä City Theatre. Chief Conductor is Ari Rasilainen. Joensuu City Orchestra The Joensuu Orchestra Society, and with it the Joensuu City Orchestra, were founded on November 9, 1953. Today the Joensuu City Orchestra is a youthful, lively band of 32 players. Its rise was piloted in the 1970s by conductor Pekka Haapasalo, until 1990. He was followed by Juozas Domarkas. Atso Almila, who took over as conductor in autumn 1993, has already left his mark on the orchestra, which has discovered new dimensions, embarked on some interesting co-experiments and been on tour abroad. Vaasa City Orchestra The Vaasa City Orchestra was made a municipal institution in 1974, with Ralf Sjöblom as its conductor. The number of players was gradually raised to 31. The orchestra has also been conducted by Ayis Ionnides and from the beginning of 1994 by Pertti Pekkanen. The orchestra works in close collaboration with Seinäjoki Orchestra, Pori Sinfonietta, the Kuula College, the Vaasa Opera and the Vaasa City Theatre. It has also appeared at a number of music festivals and been on tour in Sweden and Cyprus. Pori Sinfonietta (Pori City Orchestra) The Pori City Orchestra, nowadays known as the Pori Sinfonietta, dates from 1938, when the players in the Pori Amateur Orchestra and the Pori Orchestra Society decided to join forces. However, it was not until the late 1970s that all 28 musicians were full-time professionals. A lively orchestra of a high standard, the Pori Sinfonietta participates in a variety of events in its home city, the surrounding province and other parts of Finland. The regular conductors have included Juhani Numminen and Hannu Koivula, and since 1993 Juhani Lamminmäki. Chamber orchestras and semi-professional orchestrasKotka City Orchestra Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra - Kokkola Orchestra Lappeenranta City Orchestra The Chamber Orchestra of Lapland - Rovaniemi City Orchestra Mikkeli City Orchestra Kouvola City Orchestra Seinäjoki Orchestra Lohja Orchestra Kemi City Orchestra Savonlinna Orchestra Other orchestrasAvanti! Chamber Orchestra
Hyvinkää Orchestra Hämeenlinna City Orchestra Kajaani Orchestra Vivo Symphony Orchestra
Vantaa Orchestra - Vantaa Pops Orchestra Finnish Chamber Orchestra |