Jukka-Pekka Sarastre conductor 1956-

Bernadette Colomine
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Jukka-Pekka Sarastre for the 2010/2011 season, has been appointed chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra in Cologne. He was born in Lahti, Finland and trained as a conductor from was born in Lahti, Finland and trained in airigeni no, Sibelius Academy. Before and during his conducting studies he was the second violinist for the Finnish Radio Symphony. In 1983, together with Esa-Pekka Salonen, he started the chamber orchestra “Avanti!”, Which specializes in modern music – where his courage to choose new and exciting music has given him great recognition.

Jukka-Pekka Sarastre conductor 1956-

Jukka-Pekka Saraste (born 22 April 1956, Heinola,  Finland) is a Finnish conductor and violinist.

Jukka-Pekka Saraste was trained as a violinist. He later studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Jorma Panula in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä. Before becoming a conductor, Saraste was co-principal second violinist and later an associate to Leif Segerstam, with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO).

Avanti! Chamber Orchestra

In 1983, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jukka-Pekka Saraste co-founded the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, which specialises in performances of contemporary music. In 2000, Saraste also founded the Ekenäs Summer Concerts-Festival with the Finnish Chamber Orchestra, and he is currently the artistic advisor to both Festival and Orchestra. Saraste has directed the Finnish Chamber orchestra on several tours, including tours in the United States and China.

In 1987, Jukka-Pekka Saraste became the chief conductor of the RSO, and held the position until 2001. In 1987, he also became the principal conductor of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and remained with the orchestra until 1991. Saraste now holds the title of Conductor Laureate of the RSO. He has twice recorded the complete symphonies of Jean Sibelius with the RSO.

Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Jukka-Pekka Saraste became Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1994. The later years of his tenure were marked by strife over the orchestra’s financial difficulties, several musicians’ strikes, and his unsuccessful efforts to improve the acoustics at Roy Thomson Hall. During the 1999 labour dispute, Saraste had offered to serve as mediator in the situation.  Saraste stepped down from his Toronto post in 2001, and has since returned to Toronto for several guest appearances.

BBC Symphony Orchestra

From 2002 to 2005, Saraste served as the principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. In August 2006, he became Music Director of the Oslo Philharmonic, with an initial contract of 5 years. In June 2009, his Oslo contract was extended through the 2012–2013 season.  He is scheduled to conclude his Oslo tenure after the 2012–2013 season.

In December 2006, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra announced the appointment of Saraste as its artistic advisor from 2008 through 2011, and Artistic Director of the Lahti Sibelius Festival in 2008. In November 2008, the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne announced the appointment of Saraste as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2010–2011 season.  He served in the post through the 2018–2019 season.

Finnish State Prize for Music in 2000

Jukka-Pekka Saraste was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2000. He has received a Doctor honoris causa from York University (Toronto), and he is a Sibelius Medalist. Other honours also include the Sibelius Prize, awarded in Norway.

På danska

I 1987 kom Jukka-Pekka Sarastre´s store gennembrud. Han blev både chefdirigent for Det skotske kammerorkester, frem til 1991, og Den Finske Radiosymfoni, indtil 2001, Speciellt som chefdirigent for Det Skotske Kammerorkester var Jukka-Pekka Saraste med til at opføre succesfulde concerter på De Britiske Øer, Nordamerika og flere koncerter i New Yorks Carnegie Hall.

Musikalisk chef Torontos Symfoniorkester

1 1994 blev Jukka-Pekka Sarastre udnævnt til musikalsk chef for Torontos Symfoniorkester, en periode der sluttede i 2001.1 2000 startede Saraste også Ekenäs Sommer Koncert-festival i samarbejde med Det Finske Kammerorkester og er den dag i dag kunstnerisk chef for både festivalen og orkesteret.

Fra 2002 til 2005 var han kapelmester for BBC Symfoniorkesteret i England og tiltrådte året efter som musikalisk chef for Oslo Filharmoniske Orkester. Kontrakten er netop blevet forlænget til udgangen af 2013. Jukka-Pekka Saraste blev i år 2000 tildelt den finske stats musikpris i 2000. Han har modtaget York Universitetets æresdoktor titel og den norske Sibelius-pris.

Hans første indspilning med Torontos Symfoniorkester indbragte ham en nominering til “Juno Award” (Canadas årlige pris for rytmisk musik) og ydermere har han lavet indspilninger for Virgin Classics, EMI Classics, Ondine, Simax Classics og Decca.

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