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'...his truly excellent orchestra followed him
as if on wings and with a passionate verve.'
Kölner General-Anzeiger
Founded by Olli Mustonen in collaboration with like-minded musicians of his generation,
the Helsinki Festival Orchestra made its public debut at the opening concert
of the Helsinki Festival in 2001.
The Orchestra aims to bring together the most highly talented Finnish musicians
of the younger generation who share the ideal of applying the fine skills of
the chamber music tradition to a larger orchestral ensemble; their goal is to
create an atmosphere in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. United
by their aspirations, they seek to inspire their audiences as well as their fellow
musicians through performances which capture the true joy of music-making.
Summer 2003 saw successful performances at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam and at
the Helsinki Festival, where the Orchestra now regularly appears. Appearances
at the Köln Triennale in April 2004 were greeted by public and critical
acclaim and included radio and TV recordings for WDR Köln. In
May 2005 the Orchestra was invited to Japan where the tour culminated in a performance
at Tokyo Opera City.
Their most recent project was another visit to Asia - a tour of China in December
2005 with highly successful concerts in Beijing and Shanghai, where the concert
was declared to be one of the best in 2005 with the best ever interpretation
of Sibelius Symphony No 2. Future touring plans include the USA as well
as dates within Europe.
The Orchestra has recorded works by Sibelius and Hindemith for Ondine: 'easily
the finest available version of The Four Temperaments, and perhaps of the symphony
as well...' claimed Classicstoday.com and the American Record Guide stated
'The
sheer joy of the music-making makes this worth seeking out.'
The Helsinki Festival Orchestra acknowledges the major support of Nokia.
The Orchestra tours by arrangement with Van Walsum Management in association
with Fazer Artist Management
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