Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra (Sinfonia Lahti) is a Finnish
orchestra, based in the city of Lahti
. It was founded in 1910 and placed under the control of the Lahti
municipality in 1949. In Finland the orchestra performs in the Sibelius Hall
, while it also performs abroad in concert halls and festivals. Kalevi Aho
was appointed composer-in-residence for the orchestra in 1992, and they have recorded many of his recent works.
Past chief conductors of the orchestra have included Ulf Söderblom (1985-1988). Osmo Vänskä
became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in 1985, and chief conductor in 1988. During his tenure, he and the orchestra have achieved wide acclaim, particularly with performances and recordings of Sibelius
. Other recordings by Vänskä and the orchestra include music of Robert Kajanus
and Einojuhani Rautavaara
. Vänskä concluded his tenure as Chief Conductor in 2008 and became Conductor Laureate of the orchestra.
In December 2006, the orchestra announced the appointment of Jukka-Pekka Saraste
as artistic advisor to the orchestra from August 2008 to July 2011. Saraste works as part of an artistic team that includes concertmaster Jaakko Kuusisto, principal hornist Pertti Kuusi and general manager Tuomas Kinberg. In April 2009, the orchestra announced the appointment of Okko Kamu
as its next chief conductor, as of the autumn of 2011, after the conclusion of Saraste's scheduled tenure as artistic advisor. Kamu's initial contract is through the spring of 2014.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
orchestra, based in the city of Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
. It was founded in 1910 and placed under the control of the Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
municipality in 1949. In Finland the orchestra performs in the Sibelius Hall
Sibelius Hall
The Sibelius Hall is a concert hall in Lahti, Finland, named after the composer Jean Sibelius. The concert hall was completed in 2000. Architects Kimmo Lintula and Hannu Tikka designed the hall, which is made of wood. The acoustics were engineered by Artec Consultants, New York...
, while it also performs abroad in concert halls and festivals. Kalevi Aho
Kalevi Aho
Kalevi Aho is a Finnish composer.- Career :Born in Forssa, he studied composition at the Sibelius Academy under Einojuhani Rautavaara, receiving a diploma in 1971. He continued his studies for a year in Berlin with Boris Blacher...
was appointed composer-in-residence for the orchestra in 1992, and they have recorded many of his recent works.
Past chief conductors of the orchestra have included Ulf Söderblom (1985-1988). Osmo Vänskä
Osmo Vänskä
Osmo Antero Vänskä is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist and composer.He started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic . He then became the principal clarinet of the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982...
became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in 1985, and chief conductor in 1988. During his tenure, he and the orchestra have achieved wide acclaim, particularly with performances and recordings of Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
. Other recordings by Vänskä and the orchestra include music of Robert Kajanus
Robert Kajanus
Robert Kajanus was a Finnish conductor and composer of Swedish descent.-Life:Robert Kajanus was the most prominent Finnish composer before Jean Sibelius. His music drew on the folk legends of the Finnish people...
and Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Einojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
. Vänskä concluded his tenure as Chief Conductor in 2008 and became Conductor Laureate of the orchestra.
In December 2006, the orchestra announced the appointment of Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Jukka-Pekka Saraste is a Finnish conductor and violinist.Saraste was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula, in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä...
as artistic advisor to the orchestra from August 2008 to July 2011. Saraste works as part of an artistic team that includes concertmaster Jaakko Kuusisto, principal hornist Pertti Kuusi and general manager Tuomas Kinberg. In April 2009, the orchestra announced the appointment of Okko Kamu
Okko Kamu
Okko Kamu is a Finnish orchestral conductor.Kamu was born into a family of musicians. His father played double bass in the Helsinki Philharmonic. He began violin studies at age two and entered the Sibelius Academy at age six. He formed his own string quartet, the Suhonen, in 1964 where he played...
as its next chief conductor, as of the autumn of 2011, after the conclusion of Saraste's scheduled tenure as artistic advisor. Kamu's initial contract is through the spring of 2014.
Chief conductors
- Martti Similä (1951-1957)
- Urpo Pesonen (1959-1978)
- Jouko Saari (1978-1984)
- Ulf Söderblom (1985-1988)
- Osmo VänskäOsmo VänskäOsmo Antero Vänskä is a Finnish conductor, clarinetist and composer.He started his musical career as an orchestral clarinetist with the Turku Philharmonic . He then became the principal clarinet of the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982...
(1988-2008) - Jukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka SarasteJukka-Pekka Saraste is a Finnish conductor and violinist.Saraste was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula, in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä...
(as Artistic Advisor) (2008-present) - Okko KamuOkko KamuOkko Kamu is a Finnish orchestral conductor.Kamu was born into a family of musicians. His father played double bass in the Helsinki Philharmonic. He began violin studies at age two and entered the Sibelius Academy at age six. He formed his own string quartet, the Suhonen, in 1964 where he played...
(Chief Conductor designate) (tenure begins in 2011)