Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of the most adventurous orchestras in Europe and one of the best orchestras in a country that has more symphonies per capita than any other. Based in Helsinki, it is the primary radio orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle).
The FRSO was founded in 1927 as a small studio ensemble at Finnish Radio, the state-owned broadcasting organization led by Erkki Linko. The orchestra grew over the next several decades, reaching symphony orchestra size in 1947, and now comprises about 90 members. Its repertory is made up primarily of Classical and Romantic works, but also includes those of the Post-Romantic, Modern, and contemporary eras. In its performances and recordings, the orchestra has become a significant advocate for contemporary Finnish composers. It premieres new works commissioned by the broadcasting company each year; during the 2018-2019 season, the FRSO premiered four such works.
Its first chief conductor was Toivo Haapanen, who held the post from 1929 until 1950. Other conductors for the FRSO include Paavo Berglund, Leif Segerstam, Okku Kamu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Sakari Oramo. Hannu Lintu was named chief conductor in 2013, holding this post until 2021. Nicholas Collon was selected to become the chief conductor beginning in 2021. Under Saraste, tours became a regular practice for the orchestra and have taken it through Europe, Asia, the U.S., and the Canary Islands.
In addition to all of the FRSO's concerts being broadcast, the orchestra has made dozens of recordings. In 1939, the FRSO made its first recording, which is the only surviving recording of Jean Sibelius conducting. Other Finnish composers featured on FRSO releases include Leif Segerstam, Leevi Madetoja, Paavo Heininen, Joonas Kokkonen, Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Aarre Merikanto, Aulis Sallinen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Väinö Raitio, Jouni Kaipainen, Uuno Klami, and Eero Hämeenniemi. The orchestra has won several kudos, including two Grammophone awards: one in 2006 for Lindberg: Clarinet Concerto and the other in 2018 for Bartók: Violin Concertos. In 2019, the orchestra was heard on the Ondine album Kaija Saariaho: True Fire; Trans; Ciel d'hiver, which earned a Grammy award nomination. The FRSO has recorded mainly for the BIS and Ondine labels.
© Joseph Stevenson & Keith Finke /TiVo
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Nielsen : Symphonies 4 & 5
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Symphonic Music - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 19 May 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cello Concertos / Saint-Saëns - Lalo - Dutilleux
Arto Noras, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Concertos - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 24 Nov 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius : Symphonies 1 & 5 - Live in St. Petersburg
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Symphonic Music - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 2 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Madetoja : Symphony No.3; The Ostrobothnians, Suite Op.52; Okon Fuoko, Suite Op.58
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 7 Feb 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Works for Cello and Orchestra / Saint-Saëns - Sibelius - Bartók - Tchaikovsky
Arto Noras, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar / Lalo : Cello Concertos
Arto Noras, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Concertos - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 22 Feb 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nielsen : Symphonies 1 & 2
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Symphonic Music - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 30 May 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius : Symphonies 2 & 4 - Live in St. Petersburg
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Symphonic Music - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 2 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nielsen : Symphonies 3 & 6
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Symphonic Music - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 18 Jul 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius: Kullervo Symphony Op.7
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jean Sibelius : Kullervo-Sinfonia - Kullervo Symphony
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Leevi Madetoja : The Ostrobothnians - Pohjalaisia
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 1 Jul 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jean Sibelius : Symphonies 1 - 7 - Live in St. Petersburg
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 2 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jean Sibelius : Sinfoniat 1 & 5 - Symphonies 1 & 5
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 2 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pekka Nuotio — Opera Arias (Recorded 1973-1981)
Pekka Nuotio, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jorma Hynninen, Kari Tikka, Hannu Bister, Okko Kamu
Opera - Released by Ondine on 1 Aug 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Pehr Henrik Nordgren: Symphonies 2 & 4
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic Music - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 17 Apr 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tres Sinfonías (Adrian Leaper, Orquesta de Radio Televisión Española, Sakari Oramo, Ernest Martínez-Izquierdo, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Joven Orquesta Nacional de España)
Adrian Leaper, Orquesta de Radio Television Espanola, Sakari Oramo, Ernest Martínez Izquierdo, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Joven Orquesta Nacional De Espana
Classical - Released by Tritó on 1 Jan 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tans-Si-Aiset
Peeter Saul, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jean Sibelius : Sinfoniat 2 & 4 - Symphonies 2 & 4
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 2 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jean Sibelius : Sinfoniat 3, 6 & 7 - Symphonies 3, 6 & 7
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 2 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo