Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra has played a key role in Finnish musical life from the late 19th century, when it gave the premiere performances of the symphonies of Jean Sibelius, down to the present day. It was the first permanent orchestra in Scandinavia and has operated without a pause since its founding.
The orchestra was founded in 1882 as the Helsinki Orchestral Society, with the support of prosperous Helsinki merchants. In 1914, it merged with the rival Helsinki Symphony Orchestra and took its present name. The orchestra's home base is the Helsinki Music Centre. The Philharmonic was fundamentally shaped by founder Robert Kajanus, who remained chief conductor for five decades and brought much of Sibelius' orchestral music to the world. The group's early years are unusually well documented; the Helsinki Region Infoshare Database includes information on every concert given by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and its predecessors since 1882. In 1932, Kajanus was succeeded by Georg Schneevoigt, who also had led the orchestra during World War I. With Sergiu Comissiona (1990-1993) as one of just a few exceptions, most of the orchestra's conductors have been Scandinavian, and several have gone on to significant international careers. Notable conductors who passed through Helsinki on the way to other international capitals have included Paavo Berglund (1975-1979) and Leif Segerstam (1995-2007). In 1994, the Philharmonic recorded Sibelius' tone poem Kullervo, Op. 7, for the EMI label; later that same year, it issued a recording of works by Einojuhani Rautavaara on Ondine, and it has continued to record mostly for that label.
The group's record of Sibelius premieres has extended into the 21st century; in 2011, the orchestra was the first to perform fragmentary sketches the composer left for his destroyed Symphony No. 8. Recordings on Ondine have continued to appear, devoted mostly but not exclusively to music from Finland and other Nordic countries; for Warner Classics in 2017, the orchestra issued a complete cycle of Sibelius' symphonies. Following Segerstam, the Philharmonic's conductors have been John Storgårds (2008-2014, and he was also heard on a Gramophone Award-winning album of music by Rautavaara in 2007) and Susanna Mälkki, its first female leader. Her contract is slated to run through 2023, with an option for renewal beyond that year.
© James Manheim /TiVo
Similar artists
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RAUTAVAARA, E.: Harp Concerto / Symphony No. 8 (Nordmann, Helsinki Philharmonic, Segerstam)
Marielle Nordmann, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov: Concertos for piano 1 & 4 (Original Versions)
Alexander Ghindin, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: 6 Romances, Op. 62a, Scottish Ballade - Suite on Verses of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Op. 145a
Gerald Finley, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Sanderling
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on 3 Mar 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bartók: The Wooden Prince, Op. 13, Sz. 60 & The Miraculous Mandarin Suite, Op. 19, Sz. 73
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Susanna Mälkki
Classical - Released by BIS on 7 Jun 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Orchestral Favourites
Classical - Released by Ondine on 21 Oct 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Korngold: Symphony in F sharp major, Op. 40
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on 5 Apr 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Orchestral Music - SIBELIUS, J. / GRIEG, E. / NIELSEN, C. (Scandinavian Rhapsody) (Helsinki Philharmonic, Segerstam)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Erkki Palola, Veikko Hoyla, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kalevala Suite, Aurora borealis, Cheremis Fantasia
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Samuli Peltonen, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on 26 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle, Op. 11, Sz. 48 (Live)
Szilvia Vörös, Mika Kares, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Susanna Mälkki
Opera - Released by BIS on 19 Mar 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
SHOSTAKOVICH, D.: Symphony No. 10 / Festive Overture (Helsinki Philharmonic, DePreist) (Dmitry Shostakovich)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Delos on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Manhattan Trilogy / Symphony No. 3 (Helsinki Philharmonic, Segerstam)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rautavaara : Violin Concerto, Angels and Visitations
Elmar Oliveira, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pictured Within "Birthday Variations for M.C.B" - Kuusisto: Symphony, Op. 39 (Live)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins, Pekka Kuusisto
Classical - Released by BIS on 1 Dec 2023
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
SIBELIUS, J.: Violin Concerto in D minor / Tapiola / Symphony No. 7 (1954) (Oistrakh)
David Oïstrakh, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Beecham, Nils Eric Fougstedt
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Opera Arias (Soprano): Isokoski, Soile - TCHAIKOVSKY, P.I. / BIZET, G. / GOUNOD, C. / PUCCINI, G. / VERDI, G. (Scene d'amore)
Soile Isokoski, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Mikko Franck
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CORIGLIANO, J.: Symphony No. 2 / The Mannheim Rocket (Helsinki Philharmonic, Storgards)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: On the Last Frontier / Flute Concerto / Anadyomene (Gallois)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Patrick Gallois, Finnish Philharmonic Choir, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA: Symphony No. 6 / Cello Concerto
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Marko Ylonen, Max Pommer
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
TANEYEV, S.I.: Suite de concert / Overture to Oresteya (Kuusisto, Helsinki Philharmonic, Ashkenazy)
Pekka Kuusisto, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
CHRISTMAS MUSIC (Finnish - Jouluna Jumala syntyi) (Tapiola Choir)
Tapiola Choir, Jorma Hynninen, Uki Ovaskainen, Erkki Pohjola, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Jorma Panula
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Uuno Klami: Cheremissian Fantasy, Sea Pictures, Kalevala Suite
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 26 Nov 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo