Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Turku
, Finland
. It is the oldest orchestra in Finland and one of the oldest orchestras in the world that is still performing.
The orchestra was founded in 1790 under the name "Turun Soitannollinen Seura". The concerts featured Haydn and Beethoven as modern music, as the composers were still alive. Also Jean Sibelius
has conducted his music in the orchestra, at a total of 18 concerts.
At 2007, the orchestra consisted of 74 musicians, which makes it the fourth largest symphony orchestra in Finland after Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
. The orchestra mainly performs in Turku Concert Hall
, the first purpose-built concert hall in Finland that was completed in 1952.
Since 1979 the orchestra has regularly recorded Finnish music. A christmas recording that the orchestra recorded with Karita Mattila
sold platinum in 2003, as did their recording "Suomalaisia klassisia suosikkisävelmiä" (Finnish classical favorite songs).
Turku
Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...
, 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...
. It is the oldest orchestra in Finland and one of the oldest orchestras in the world that is still performing.
The orchestra was founded in 1790 under the name "Turun Soitannollinen Seura". The concerts featured Haydn and Beethoven as modern music, as the composers were still alive. Also Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
has conducted his music in the orchestra, at a total of 18 concerts.
At 2007, the orchestra consisted of 74 musicians, which makes it the fourth largest symphony orchestra in Finland after Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Helsinki, Finland...
, 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...
and Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra 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 mainly performs in Turku Concert Hall
Turku Concert Hall
Turku Concert Hall is located on the north side of the Puutori market square in Turku, Finland. The hall was designed by architect Risto-Veikko Luukkonen and constructed in 1952. It was the first concert hall in Finland...
, the first purpose-built concert hall in Finland that was completed in 1952.
Since 1979 the orchestra has regularly recorded Finnish music. A christmas recording that the orchestra recorded with Karita Mattila
Karita Mattila
Karita Marjatta Mattila is a leading opera soprano. She was born in Somero, Finland.Mattila appears regularly in the major opera houses worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, Théâtre du Châtelet, Opéra Bastille, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco...
sold platinum in 2003, as did their recording "Suomalaisia klassisia suosikkisävelmiä" (Finnish classical favorite songs).