Sakari Oramo
Encyclopedia
Sakari Markus Oramo OBE (born October 26, 1965, Helsinki
, Finland
) is a Finnish
conductor
.
Oramo started his career as a violin
ist and concertmaster
of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
. In 1989, he enrolled in Jorma Panula
's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy
. In 1993, just one year after completing the course, he stood in for a sick conductor with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. This success led to his appointment as Co-Principal Conductor. Oramo has also worked with Finland's Avanti! ensemble. Since 2003, Oramo has been sole Principal Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
. In September 2010, the orchestra announced the conclusion of Oramo's tenure as principal conductor as of May 2012.
In September 1996, Oramo was named Principal Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
(CBSO), having conducted the CBSO in two concerts prior to that appointment. He assumed the post in 1998, and in 1999, was elevated to Music Director. His work in Birmingham has included the Floof! festival of contemporary music. He also championed the music of John Foulds
in concerts and recordings with the CBSO. In 2008, Oramo stepped down as the CBSO's Music Director and became the orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor for the 2008-2009 season.
In April 2007, Oramo was one of eight conductors of British orchestras to endorse the 10-year classical music outreach manifesto, "Building on Excellence: Orchestras for the 21st Century", to increase the presence of classical music in the UK, including giving free entry to all British schoolchildren to a classical music concert. In addition to his conducting and recording work, Oramo has also published newspaper articles on music.
In September 2008, Oramo became Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
. His initial contract in Stockholm was for three years. With the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, he has recorded symphonies of Robert Schumann
. In 2011, Oramo's contract with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic was extended through 2015.
Oramo is married to the Finnish soprano Anu Komsi, and they have two sons, Taavi and Leevi. In May 2009, Oramo was awarded an honorary OBE for services to music in Birmingham. Oramo and Komsi, together with Annika Mylläri and Robert McLoud, founded West Coast Kokkola
Opera in 2004. Oramo currently serves as its vice chairman and principal conductor.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
) is a Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Oramo started his career as a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and concertmaster
Concertmaster
The concertmaster/mistress is the spalla or leader, of the first violin section of an orchestra. In the UK, the term commonly used is leader...
of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a Finnish orchestra based in Helsinki, and is the chief radio orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company . The orchestra primarily gives concerts at the Helsinki Music Centre...
. In 1989, he enrolled in Jorma Panula
Jorma Panula
Jorma Panula is a Finnish conductor, composer, and professor of conducting.Panula is a graduate of the Sibelius Academy, where he studied the organ, church music and conducting...
's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy
Sibelius Academy
The Sibelius Academy is a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities...
. In 1993, just one year after completing the course, he stood in for a sick conductor with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. This success led to his appointment as Co-Principal Conductor. Oramo has also worked with Finland's Avanti! ensemble. Since 2003, Oramo has been sole Principal Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra is a Finnish orchestra based in Helsinki, and is the chief radio orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company . The orchestra primarily gives concerts at the Helsinki Music Centre...
. In September 2010, the orchestra announced the conclusion of Oramo's tenure as principal conductor as of May 2012.
In September 1996, Oramo was named Principal Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
(CBSO), having conducted the CBSO in two concerts prior to that appointment. He assumed the post in 1998, and in 1999, was elevated to Music Director. His work in Birmingham has included the Floof! festival of contemporary music. He also championed the music of John Foulds
John Foulds
John Herbert Foulds was a British composer of classical music. Largely self-taught as a composer, he was one of the most remarkable and unjustly forgotten figures of the "British Musical Renaissance"....
in concerts and recordings with the CBSO. In 2008, Oramo stepped down as the CBSO's Music Director and became the orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor for the 2008-2009 season.
In April 2007, Oramo was one of eight conductors of British orchestras to endorse the 10-year classical music outreach manifesto, "Building on Excellence: Orchestras for the 21st Century", to increase the presence of classical music in the UK, including giving free entry to all British schoolchildren to a classical music concert. In addition to his conducting and recording work, Oramo has also published newspaper articles on music.
In September 2008, Oramo became Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is a Swedish orchestra based in Stockholm.The orchestra was founded in 1902 as the Stockholm Concert Society . The orchestra became a permanent ensemble in 1914. Since 1926, it has been based in the Stockholm Concert Hall...
. His initial contract in Stockholm was for three years. With the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, he has recorded symphonies of Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
. In 2011, Oramo's contract with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic was extended through 2015.
Oramo is married to the Finnish soprano Anu Komsi, and they have two sons, Taavi and Leevi. In May 2009, Oramo was awarded an honorary OBE for services to music in Birmingham. Oramo and Komsi, together with Annika Mylläri and Robert McLoud, founded West Coast Kokkola
Kokkola
Kokkola is a town and municipality of Finland.The town is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
Opera in 2004. Oramo currently serves as its vice chairman and principal conductor.
External links
- Sakari Oramo biography at Harrison Parrott Agency
- Royal Stockholm Philharmonic / Konserthus Swedish-language page on Sakari Oramo
- Sakari Oramo biography at Hyperion Records
- Sakari Oramo biography at Ondine Records
- Sakari Oramo biography at Warner Classics