Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (Finnish
:Tampere Filharmonia) is a Finnish orchestra based in Tampere
. Founded in 1930, and maintained by the municipality of Tampere since 1947, the orchestra is currently based in the Tampere Hall
. The orchestra collaborates with the Tampere Opera
and Tampere Ballet and regularly participates in the Tampere Biennale music festival
.
In 1929, the Tampere Music Board decided to establish a local orchestra, and entrusted the task of assembling the musicians to Elias Kiianmies, who became the orchestra's first chief conductor
. The ensemble, first named the Tampereen Orkesteri (Tampere Orchestra) and consisting of 34 musicians, gave its first performance on January 6, 1930 in the Tampere Town Hall. In the spring of 1932, Eero Kosonen became chief conductor of the orchestra, and held the post for a record 37 years. In 1947, the municipality took over the orchestra, renaming it the Tampereen Kaupunginorkesteri (Tampere City Orchestra). Under the new name, the orchestra gave its first performance on January 9.
During the 1970s, the number of musicians increased to 59. In 1974, the orchestra released its first record, Kalevi Aho
's Symphony No. 4. Since then, 40 recordings have been released locally and internationally, on such labels as Finlandia and Ondine. As a part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the orchestra made its first international tour, visiting Stockholm
and Norrköping
in Sweden
. The orchestra first toured the United States
in 1987.
In 1990, the Soviet
-born American Leonid Grin became the orchestra's first chief conductor from outside of Finland. The orchestra relocated to the new 1756-seat Tampere Hall. In 1998, Eri Klas
became the orchestra's chief conductor, and held the post until 2006. Klas now has the title of Conductor Laureate of the orchestra.
The orchestra received its current name in 2002. The size of the orchestra continued to increase and reached 97 musicians in 2005, thus becoming the only full-scale Finnish symphony orchestra outside Helsinki
. The orchestra has educational programmes aimed at children and youth, and is the first Finnish orchestra with a young listeners' club. Outside of classical music, the orchestra participated in the recording of the power metal
album Vendetta
by the Finnish band Celesty
.
Since 2009, the orchestra's chief conductor is Hannu Lintu.
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
:Tampere Filharmonia) is a Finnish orchestra based in Tampere
Tampere
Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of , growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in...
. Founded in 1930, and maintained by the municipality of Tampere since 1947, the orchestra is currently based in the Tampere Hall
Tampere Hall
The Tampere Hall is the largest concert and congress centre in the Nordic countries, located in the southern edge of Sorsapuisto, in the centre of Tampere, Finland. Opposite of the Tampere Hall is the main building of the University of Tampere, and the Tampere railway station is only half a...
. The orchestra collaborates with the Tampere Opera
Tampere Opera
The Tampere Opera, established in 1946, is an opera house based in Tampere, Finland. The opera is run by guest artists. Their orchestra is the Tampere Filharmonia. The choir is composed of 80 singers and is led by Heikki Liimola....
and Tampere Ballet and regularly participates in the Tampere Biennale music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
.
In 1929, the Tampere Music Board decided to establish a local orchestra, and entrusted the task of assembling the musicians to Elias Kiianmies, who became the orchestra's first chief 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...
. The ensemble, first named the Tampereen Orkesteri (Tampere Orchestra) and consisting of 34 musicians, gave its first performance on January 6, 1930 in the Tampere Town Hall. In the spring of 1932, Eero Kosonen became chief conductor of the orchestra, and held the post for a record 37 years. In 1947, the municipality took over the orchestra, renaming it the Tampereen Kaupunginorkesteri (Tampere City Orchestra). Under the new name, the orchestra gave its first performance on January 9.
During the 1970s, the number of musicians increased to 59. In 1974, the orchestra released its first record, Kalevi Aho
Kalevi Aho
Kalevi Aho is a Finnish composer.- Career :Born in Forssa, he studied composition at the Sibelius Academy under Einojuhani Rautavaara, receiving a diploma in 1971. He continued his studies for a year in Berlin with Boris Blacher...
's Symphony No. 4. Since then, 40 recordings have been released locally and internationally, on such labels as Finlandia and Ondine. As a part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the orchestra made its first international tour, visiting Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
and Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The orchestra first toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1987.
In 1990, the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-born American Leonid Grin became the orchestra's first chief conductor from outside of Finland. The orchestra relocated to the new 1756-seat Tampere Hall. In 1998, Eri Klas
Eri Klas
Eri Klas, is an Estonian conductor.Klas is of Jewish ancestry. Klas graduated as an opera and concert conductor in both Tallinn and Leningrad , beginning his conducting career at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn and at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow...
became the orchestra's chief conductor, and held the post until 2006. Klas now has the title of Conductor Laureate of the orchestra.
The orchestra received its current name in 2002. The size of the orchestra continued to increase and reached 97 musicians in 2005, thus becoming the only full-scale Finnish symphony orchestra outside Helsinki
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...
. The orchestra has educational programmes aimed at children and youth, and is the first Finnish orchestra with a young listeners' club. Outside of classical music, the orchestra participated in the recording of the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
album Vendetta
Vendetta (Celesty album)
-Band members:*Jere Luokkamäki – drums*Juha Mäenpää – keyboards*Teemu Koskela – lead and acoustic guitars*Tapani Kangas – rhythm guitars*Ari Katajamäki – bass*Antti Railio – vocals-Guest musicians:*Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra...
by the Finnish band Celesty
Celesty
Celesty is a Finnish power metal band from Seinäjoki, formed in 1998. The band has released four albums, of which their latest includes a collaboration with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and a professional choir....
.
Since 2009, the orchestra's chief conductor is Hannu Lintu.
Chief conductors
- Elias Kiianmies (1929–1932)
- Eero Kosonen (1932–1968)
- Juhani Raiskinen (1968–1973)
- Jouko Saari (1973–1974)
- Paavo Rautio (1974–1987)
- Atso AlmilaAtso AlmilaAtso Almila is a Finnish orchestral conductor, musical director, composer, trombonist and teacher.He has worked with most Finnish orchestras as a guest conductor or otherwise. Though he primarily operates in Finland he also works heavily in Sweden and Estonia...
(1987–1990) - Ari Rasilainen (1989–1990)
- Leonid Grin (1990–1994)
- Tuomas Ollila (1994–1998)
- Eri KlasEri KlasEri Klas, is an Estonian conductor.Klas is of Jewish ancestry. Klas graduated as an opera and concert conductor in both Tallinn and Leningrad , beginning his conducting career at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn and at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow...
(1998–2006; Conductor Laureate since 2006) - John StorgårdsJohn StorgårdsJohn Gunnar Rafael Storgårds is a Finnish violinist and conductor.Storgårds studied violin with Esther Raitio and Jouko Ignatius at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and continued his violin studies with Chaim Taub in Israel. He was a founding member of the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra...
(2006–2009) - Hannu Lintu (2009–present)