Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Homecity Helsinki
Established
1882 (municipalized 1914)
Size
102 musicians
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (founded 1882), has been operating without a break for 140 years. It has grown from a band of 36 players to an orchestra of 102 regular members giving concerts attended by a total audience of a good 100,000 a year at the Helsinki Music Centre and abroad.
Between 1892 and 1923 the HPO gave the first performances of almost all the symphonic works by Jean Sibelius with the composer himself conducting. The HPO’s founder and first Chief Conductor Robert Kajanus was succeeded by Paavo Berglund, Leif Segerstam, John Storgårds and Susanna Mälkki.
The orchestra has a three-member Artistic Leadership Team, starting in autumn 2023, which comprises Chief Conductor and Artistic Director Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Principal Guest Conductor and Artistic Co-director Pekka Kuusisto and Composer-in-Residence Anna Thorvaldsdottir.
Several HPO recordings have received awards in Finland and abroad, including Grammy nominations.
Contact Us
Jukka Saraste
Chief conductor
Pekka Kuusisto
Principal Guest Conductor
Anna Thorvaldsdottir
Composer-in-Residence
Marja Istala-Kumpunen
Communications and Liaison Manager
Public Work
HPO Kids 2020, 2012, 2000, Final rehearsals, Rehearsals for special groups, Junior Concert in co-operation with 5th grade music students from Helsinki, Little Overture in co-operation with Helsinki Music Institutes, Learn how to listen to classical music! material online, Hear this, I’m a composer! project in co-operation the the actors at the Helsinki Music Centre, Music Trolley in daycare centres, Art Excursion for Second Graders.
Contact
Annika Kukkonen
Education Manager
tel +358 9 3102 2711
[email protected]