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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Peat, Smoke & Seaweed Storm
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka Harju, Matilda Kärkkäinen, Sakari Oramo, Dima Slobodeniouk
Classical - Released by Alba on 17 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Concerto pour clarinette - Symphonie n°1
Christoffer Sundqvist, Anna-Karin Korhonen, Ilkka Heinonen, Markku Lepistö, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Juha Kangas
Classical - Released by Alba on 9 Dec 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
KAIPAINEN, J.: Horn Concerto / Cello Concerto No. 1 (Tapani, Ylonen)
Esa Tapani, Marko Ylonen, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kokkonen: Durch einen Spiegel & Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Berglund
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
HAMEENNIEMI, E.: Violin Concerto / Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2 (Segerstam, H., Saraste)
Hannele Segerstam, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Fagerlund: Darkness in Light
Pekka Kuusisto, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by BIS on 2 Mar 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dutilleux / Agopov : Cello Concertos
Arto Noras, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Concertos - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 24 Feb 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev, S.: Symphony-Concerto in E Minor / Merikanto, A.: Cello Concerto No. 2
Jan-Erik Gustafsson, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Levitation
Christoffer Sundqvist, Kullervo Kojo, Tommi Aalto, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu, Okko Kamu
Classical - Released by Alba on 10 Apr 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
VILLA-LOBOS, H.: Choros No. 11 (Gothoni, Finnish Radio Symphony, Oramo)
Ralf Gothóni, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
KILPINEN, Y.: Spielmannslieder / Lieder um den Tod / Lakeus / 7 Lieder
Jorma Hynninen, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ralf Gothóni
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tauno Marttinen: Orchestral Works
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Finlandia Classics on 12 Oct 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hameenniemi, E.: Symphony No. 3 / Viola Concerto
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tommi Aalto, Sakari Oramo, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by Alba on 1 Jan 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
PROKOFIEV, S.: Peter and the Wolf / POULENC, F.: The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant (Pyosti, Finnish Radio Symphony, Saraste)
Lasse Pyosti, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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 -
Segerstam: Symphony No. 11 / Symphony No. 14
Mikael Samuelson, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by BIS on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nordgren / Bergman: Violin Concertos / Segerstam: A Last Melodioso
Hannele Segerstam, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by BIS on 1 Jan 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar / Dvorák : Cello Concertos - Bartók : Rhapsody No.1
Arto Noras, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Fazer Records - Finlandia on 24 Nov 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sibelius : Symphonies 3, 6 & 7 - 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 -
Jean Sibelius : Complete Symphonies
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 -
Essential Highlights of Karita Mattila
Karita Mattila, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ilmo Ranta, Peter Lerche, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Jean Sibelius
Opera - Released by Ondine on 1 Apr 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo