Mikko Franck
Encyclopedia
Mikko Franck is a Finnish conductor
. He began to play the violin at the age of 5. By age 7, he reportedly preferred orchestral scores to all other reading matter. His first favorite score was Tchaikovsky
’s Symphony No. 6
(the Pathétique) which he used to conduct while listening to a recording on earphones. He continued violin studies at the Sibelius Academy
in Helsinki, beginning in 1992.
In 1995, Franck took an opportunity from the Junior Department at the Sibelius Academy, which was celebrating its anniversary, to conduct an orchestra offered to any student who wished to do so. After this occurred, Jorma Panula
immediately enlisted him as a private student. Franck entered Panula's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy in the fall of 1996. He has said of Panula:
Franck ended his studies there in 1998 without receiving a diploma because his international career had already begun.
Before age 23, Franck had made his conducting début with all of the leading Scandinavian orchestras, as well as with the Philharmonia
Orchestra of London, the London Symphony Orchestra
, the Munich Philharmonic, the Berlin Staatsoper (Berlin State Opera) and the Israel Philharmonic. He received a Grammy nomination for "Best Orchestral Performance" for his first recording, which was of music by Jean Sibelius
. He is a friend and champion of the works of Einojuhani Rautavaara
.
Franck became artistic director of the National Orchestra of Belgium
in September 2002. He concluded his tenure with the orchestra in 2007.
In 2004, Franck was named general music director of the Finnish National Opera
and officially took up the post in August 2006. In February 2007, he suddenly announced his resignation from this position, claiming a loss of confidence in the company's then-general director Erkki Korhonen and administrative director Pekka Kauranen. However, in November 2007, the company nominated Franck to the dual post of Artistic Director and General Music Director, and in December 2007, officially named him to both posts. His contract is effective 1 January 2008 through 31 July 2011, with an option for a 2-year extension.
Franck married the German opera director Martina Pickert in 2006. He got divorced in 2010.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. He began to play the violin at the age of 5. By age 7, he reportedly preferred orchestral scores to all other reading matter. His first favorite score was Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
’s Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 6 (Tchaikovsky)
The Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's final completed symphony, written between February and the end of August 1893. The composer led the first performance in Saint Petersburg on 16/28 October of that year, nine days before his death...
(the Pathétique) which he used to conduct while listening to a recording on earphones. He continued violin studies at the Sibelius Academy
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy is a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities...
in Helsinki, beginning in 1992.
In 1995, Franck took an opportunity from the Junior Department at the Sibelius Academy, which was celebrating its anniversary, to conduct an orchestra offered to any student who wished to do so. After this occurred, Jorma Panula
Jorma Panula
Jorma Panula is a Finnish conductor, composer, and professor of conducting.Panula is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy, where he studied the organ, church music and conducting...
immediately enlisted him as a private student. Franck entered Panula's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy in the fall of 1996. He has said of Panula:
"He gave me everything that can be taught about this profession. For instance, we used video as an aid in losing my unnecessary mannerisms."
Franck ended his studies there in 1998 without receiving a diploma because his international career had already begun.
Before age 23, Franck had made his conducting début with all of the leading Scandinavian orchestras, as well as with the Philharmonia
Philharmonia
The Philharmonia Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Great Britain, based in London. Since 1995, it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Corn Exchange, Bedford, as well as The Anvil, Basingstoke...
Orchestra of London, the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, the Munich Philharmonic, the Berlin Staatsoper (Berlin State Opera) and the Israel Philharmonic. He received a Grammy nomination for "Best Orchestral Performance" for his first recording, which was of music by Jean 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."...
. He is a friend and champion of the works of 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:...
.
Franck became artistic director of the National Orchestra of Belgium
National Orchestra of Belgium
The Nationaal Orkest van België or Orchestre National de Belgique is the oldest of two major orchestras now in Belgium, along with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège....
in September 2002. He concluded his tenure with the orchestra in 2007.
In 2004, Franck was named general music director of the Finnish National Opera
Finnish National Opera
The Finnish National Opera in Helsinki is the leading opera company in Finland. Its home base is the Opera House on Töölönlahti bay in Töölö which opened in 1993, and is state-owned through Senate Properties...
and officially took up the post in August 2006. In February 2007, he suddenly announced his resignation from this position, claiming a loss of confidence in the company's then-general director Erkki Korhonen and administrative director Pekka Kauranen. However, in November 2007, the company nominated Franck to the dual post of Artistic Director and General Music Director, and in December 2007, officially named him to both posts. His contract is effective 1 January 2008 through 31 July 2011, with an option for a 2-year extension.
Franck married the German opera director Martina Pickert in 2006. He got divorced in 2010.
Discography
Mikko Franck's recordings to date (2006) include:- Jean SibeliusJean SibeliusJean 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."...
- the suite LemminkäinenLemminkäinenLemminkäinen or Lemminki is a prominent figure in Finnish mythology. He is one of the Heroes of the Kalevala, where his character is a composition of several separate heroes of oral poetry. He is usually depicted as young and good looking, with wavy blonde hair.The original, mythological...
and the tone poem En SagaEn SagaEn saga is a tone poem written by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in 1892. After hearing Sibelius' choral work Kullervo, the conductor Robert Kajanus encouraged Sibelius to compose a purely orchestral work, which turned out finally to be this work...
recorded with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ondine 953; issued in 2000) - Jean SibeliusJean SibeliusJean 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."...
- the tone poem En SagaEn SagaEn saga is a tone poem written by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in 1892. After hearing Sibelius' choral work Kullervo, the conductor Robert Kajanus encouraged Sibelius to compose a purely orchestral work, which turned out finally to be this work...
recorded with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra on a disc with five other pieces by Sibelius interpreted by other conductors (Ondine 992; released in 2001) - Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6Symphony No. 6 (Tchaikovsky)The Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's final completed symphony, written between February and the end of August 1893. The composer led the first performance in Saint Petersburg on 16/28 October of that year, nine days before his death...
in B minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique" paired with - Einojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
- ApotheosisApotheosisApotheosis is the glorification of a subject to divine level. The term has meanings in theology, where it refers to a belief, and in art, where it refers to a genre.In theology, the term apotheosis refers to the idea that an individual has been raised to godlike stature...
, both recorded with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ondine 1002; released in 2003) - Einojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
- the "tragedia buffa" opera The House of the SunThe House of the SunThe House of the Sun is a 2010 Russian movie about hippies in the Soviet Union. The director is rock musician Garik Sukachov...
with the Oulu Symphony Orchestra and Jukka Romu (Bass), Raija Regnell (Mezzo Soprano), Ulla Raiskio (Alto), Tuomas Katajala (Tenor), Petri Backstrom (Tenor), Tommi HakalaTommi HakalaTommi Hakala is a Finnish operatic baritone and winner of the 2003 BBC Singer of the World Competition in Cardiff. He was born in Riihimäki, Finland.-Sources:*BBC News, , 30 June 2003*BBC Singer of the World Competition,...
(Baritone), Markus Nieminen (Baritone), Helena Juntunen (Soprano), Mia Huhta (Soprano), and Anne-Kristiina Kaappola (Soprano) (Ondine 1032; released in 2004) - Einojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
- the opera Rasputin recorded with Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Finnish National Opera Chorus together with Lilli PaasikiviLilli PaasikiviThe Finnish mezzo-soprano Lilli Paasikivi is principal soloist of the Finnish National Opera.Her roles have included Marguerite and Octavian . She has also performed as Fricka in Das Rheingold with the Berlin Philharmonic under Sir Simon Rattle...
(Mezzo Soprano), Jorma Hynninen (Baritone), Jyrki Anttila (Tenor), Riikka Rantanen (Mezzo Soprano), Ritva-Liisa Korhonen (Soprano), Jyrki Korhonen (Bass), Gabriel Suovanen (Baritone), Matti Salminen (Bass), and Lassi Virtanen (Tenor) (Ondine 1002; released in 2005) - Einojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani RautavaaraEinojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music, and is one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius.-Life:...
- Symphony No. 1, Adagio Celeste, and Book of Visions recorded with the Belgian National Orchestra (Ondine 1064; released in 2006)