Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (in Finnish: Helsingin kaupunginorkesteri; in Swedish: Helsingfors stadsorkester; literal English translation: Helsinki City Orchestra; commonly abbreviated as HPO) is an orchestra based in Helsinki, Finland. Founded in 1882 by Robert Kajanus, the Philharmonic Orchestra was the first permanent orchestra in the Nordic countries. Today, its primary concert venue is the Helsinki Music Centre; the current chief conductor is Jukka-Pekka Saraste, who has held his post since the start of the 2023-24 season..
History
Early history
In 1882, with the backing of two wealthy businessmen (
In 1912, the Finnish conductor
Until 1962, it also served as the orchestra for the
Modern era
Leif Segerstam was chief conductor of the orchestra from 1995 to 2007, and is now its chief conductor emeritus. John Storgårds became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in 2003, and took up the chief conductorship of the orchestra in the autumn of 2008, with an initial contract of 4 years. Following an initial renewal of his contract through 2014.,[11] in October 2013, the orchestra announced a further extension of Storgårds' contract through December 2015, at which time he stood down as chief conductor.[12][13] In September 2014, the orchestra announced the appointment of Susanna Mälkki as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2016–2017 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[14][15] She is the first female conductor to be named to the post in the orchestra's history.[16] In October 2017, the orchestra announced the extension of Mälkki's contract as chief conductor through 2021.[17] In June 2019, the orchestra announced a further extension of her contract as chief conductor through 2023, with an option for a further 2-year extension past 2023.[18] In December 2021, the orchestra announced that Mälkki is to stand down as its chief conductor at the end of the 2022-2023 season, and subsequently to take the title of chief conductor emeritus with the orchestra.[19] In April 2022, the orchestra announced the appointments of Jukka-Pekka Saraste as its next chief conductor, Pekka Kuusisto as its next principal guest conductor, and Anna Clyne as its composer-in-residence, all effective with the 2023-2024 season.[20]
The orchestra has recorded commercially for such labels as Ondine
Chief conductors
- Robert Kajanus (1882–1932)
- Georg Schnéevoigt (1914–1916; 1932–1940)
- Armas Järnefelt (1942–1943)
- Martti Similä (1945–1951)
- Tauno Hannikainen (1951–1963)
- Jorma Panula (1965–1972)
- Paavo Berglund (1975–1979)
- Ulf Söderblom (1978–1979)
- Okko Kamu (1981–1988)
- Sergiu Comissiona (1990–1993)
- Leif Segerstam (1995–2007)
- John Storgårds (2008–2015)
- Susanna Mälkki (2016–2023)
- Jukka-Pekka Saraste (designate, effective 2023)
Notes
- ^ When referring to the orchestra's name from 1882 to early 1894, sources will often utilize an alternative translation: the Helsinki Orchestral Society or, similarly, the Helsinki Orchestra Society. However, the website of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra translates its early name as Orchestral Association, which is the term used for this article.
- Helsinki Music Institute(now the Sibelius Academy) in 1882 and was protective of his turf.
- ^ In 1912, Kajanus had hired the Finnish composers Leevi Madetoja and Toivo Kuula to serve as assistant conductors; however, the merger of the Helsinki Philharmonic Society with Schnéevoigh's Helsinki Symphony Orchestra rendered Madetoja and Kuula superfluous, and each was let go.
- ^ When the Helsinki Philharmonic Society and the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra merged in 1914, Kajanus's music school closed and its students transferred to the Helsinki Music Institute.
References
- ISBN 978-9-525-07661-5.
- ^ "An orchestra is formed". helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi. HPO. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "Sinfonia konsertti" [Symphony concert]. Uusi Suometar (in Finnish). No. 229. 3 October 1882. p. 2.
- ^ "Kajanus's practical orchestra school". helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi. HPO. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ "The Helsinki Orchestra Association becomes the Helsinki Philharmonic Society". helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi. HPO. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ISBN 0-313-27728-1.
- ISBN 978-0-571-24773-8.
- ^ "Negotiations begin over changing the name of the Philharmonic Orchestra to the Helsinki City Orchestra". helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi. HPO. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-571-24774-5.
- ^ "The First World War raises problems". helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi. HPO. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ Andrew Mellor (2011-03-04). "BBC Philharmonic appoints John Storgårds principal guest conductor". Gramophone. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
- ^ "John Storgårds will extend his contract as Chief Conductor" (Press release). Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. October 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-11-06. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
- ^ Samuli Tiikkaja (2013-10-20). "John Storgårds on orkesterin luottovahti". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
- ^ "Susanna Mälkki appointed Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra" (Press release). Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. 1 Sep 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2014-09-01.
- ^ Vesa Sirén (2014-09-01). "Susanna Mälkki valittiin Helsingin kaupunginorkesterin ylikapellimestariksi – "olen iloinen ja ylpeä"". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
- ^ Vesa Sirén (2014-09-02). "HKO teki historiaa". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
- ^ "Susanna Mälkki to continue as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra" (Press release). Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
- ^ "Susanna Mälkki Extends With Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra" (Press release). Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
- ^ "Susanna Mälkki päättää ylikapellimestarikautensa Helsingin kaupunginorkesterissa kesällä 2023" (Press release). Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
- ^ "HKO:lle taiteellinen johtotiimi vuonna 2023" (Press release). Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ Andrew Clements (2008-05-22). "Sibelius: Kullervo, Isokoski/ Hakala/ YL Male Voice Choir/ Helsinki Philharmonic Orch/ Segerstam". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-09-02.
- ^ Tim Ashley (2015-03-12). "Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau; Sinfonietta CD review – too cool for my taste". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-04-08.
- ^ Andrew Mellor (2011-11-17). "Helsinki Philharmonic plays Sibelius' Eighth fragments". Gramophone. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
- ^ Samuli Tiikkaja (2013-10-20). "John Storgårds on orkesterin luottovahti". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 2013-11-03.