Osmo VANSKA, conductor (Finland)

Praised for his intense, dynamic performances; his compelling, innovative interpretations of the standard, contemporary and Nordic repertoires; and the close rapport he establishes with the orchestra musicians he leads, Osmo Vanska is the Minnesota Orchestra’s tenth Music Director as well as Music Director of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra in Finland. He was until July 2002 Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow.

During his 2003-04 inaugural season in Minnesota, Vanska broadcast his commitment to this newpartnership with an acclaimed tour of Europe including performances at the Konzerthaus, Vienna, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Philharmonie Berlin, Philharmonie Cologne and Barbican, London. Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra have also embarked upon a recording of the complete Beethoven Symphonies for BIS Records.

Internationally in demand as a guest conductor, Vanska’s US orchestra invitations include the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and National Symphony Orchestra. In Europe he leads orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Bayerischer Rundfunk Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; and invitations with the Sydney Symphony, Tokyo’s Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic also feature in his cross-continental schedule. With the Lahti Symphony Orchestra Vanska has continued to garner international attention through a worldwide touring programme including London, Birmingham, Tokyo and New York; the opening of Lahti’s 1,250-seat state-of-the-art, all-wood concert hall – the world’s only Sibelius Hall; and an ongoing recording programme for BIS including the ground-breaking Sibelius Edition. With BIS and Lahti, he has been honoured with many awards, including two Gramophone Awards (1991 and 1996), the Grand Prix du Disque (1993), and the Cannes Classical Award (1997 and 2001). Their BIS catalogue is additionally characterised by albums which feature twentieth-century composers, including Kalevi Aho, Sofia Gubaidulina, Joonas Kokkonen, Uuno Klami, James MacMillan, Tauno Marttinen, and Einojuhani Rautavaara; while Vanska’s Nielsen series for BIS with the BBC Scottish Symphony has received the most enthusiastic plaudits. He has also recorded several CDs for Hyperion, including music by Bruckner and Pizzetti, with the BBC Scottish Symphony.

Osmo Vanska began his musical career as a clarinettist, holding the co-principal chair in the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982 and in the Turku Philharmonic from 1971 to 1976. Following conducting studies at the Sibelius Academy (1977-1979) with Jorma Panula, he took first prize in the 1982 Besancon International Young Conductor’s Competition and three years later began his Lahti affiliation. Vanska also served as Music Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (1993-96) and the Tapiola Sinfonietta (1990-92).

The many honours and distinctions awarded to Osmo Vanska include an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow, a privilege given in recognition of his role as Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony. In May 2002 he was honoured with a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to classical music during 2001; and in December 2004, he was recipient of Musical America's Conductor of the Year Award.

During his 2003-04 inaugural season in Minnesota, Vanska broadcast his commitment to this newpartnership with an acclaimed tour of Europe including performances at the Konzerthaus, Vienna, Alte Oper, Frankfurt, Philharmonie Berlin, Philharmonie Cologne and Barbican, London. Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra have also embarked upon a recording of the complete Beethoven Symphonies for BIS Records.

Internationally in demand as a guest conductor, Vanska’s US orchestra invitations include the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and National Symphony Orchestra. In Europe he leads orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Bayerischer Rundfunk Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; and invitations with the Sydney Symphony, Tokyo’s Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic also feature in his cross-continental schedule. With the Lahti Symphony Orchestra Vanska has continued to garner international attention through a worldwide touring programme including London, Birmingham, Tokyo and New York; the opening of Lahti’s 1,250-seat state-of-the-art, all-wood concert hall – the world’s only Sibelius Hall; and an ongoing recording programme for BIS including the ground-breaking Sibelius Edition. With BIS and Lahti, he has been honoured with many awards, including two Gramophone Awards (1991 and 1996), the Grand Prix du Disque (1993), and the Cannes Classical Award (1997 and 2001). Their BIS catalogue is additionally characterised by albums which feature twentieth-century composers, including Kalevi Aho, Sofia Gubaidulina, Joonas Kokkonen, Uuno Klami, James MacMillan, Tauno Marttinen, and Einojuhani Rautavaara; while Vanska’s Nielsen series for BIS with the BBC Scottish Symphony has received the most enthusiastic plaudits. He has also recorded several CDs for Hyperion, including music by Bruckner and Pizzetti, with the BBC Scottish Symphony.

Osmo Vanska began his musical career as a clarinettist, holding the co-principal chair in the Helsinki Philharmonic from 1977 to 1982 and in the Turku Philharmonic from 1971 to 1976. Following conducting studies at the Sibelius Academy (1977-1979) with Jorma Panula, he took first prize in the 1982 Besancon International Young Conductor’s Competition and three years later began his Lahti affiliation. Vanska also served as Music Director of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (1993-96) and the Tapiola Sinfonietta (1990-92).

The many honours and distinctions awarded to Osmo Vanska include an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow, a privilege given in recognition of his role as Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony. In May 2002 he was honoured with a Royal Philharmonic Society Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to classical music during 2001; and in December 2004, he was recipient of Musical America's Conductor of the Year Award.