Finland’s Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra has named British conductor Matthew Halls its next Chief Conductor and Artistic Director, succeeding present incumbent, Santtu-Matias Rouvali. His initial contract, for three years, will start with the 2023-4 season and follows long-standing partnerships between Halls and the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Houston Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony orchestras. 

Halls made his Tampere debut earlier this year with Haydn’s Symphony No. 101, followed by Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony with the orchestra this October. 

Matthew Halls conducts Haydn Symphony No 101 'The Clock' with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Halls' background lies in early music. His artistic versatility includes founding the Retrospect Ensemble, guest conducting Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s Concentus Musicus Wien, and recently the US premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Fourth Symphony. 

Matthew Halls was educated at Oxford University and subsequently taught at the university for five years. Noted for his commitment to education he led the launch of Oregon’s Berwick Academy in 2015 and continues to participate in education projects. 

Halls' recording catalogue includes Handel’s Parnasso in Festa (Hyperion), winner of the Stanley Sadie Handel Recording Prize, as well as a set of four Bach Harpsichord Concertos conducted from the keyboard, and award-winning discs of Purcell’s Sonatas in Three and Four Parts (Linn Records). His recording of Bach's Easter Oratorio with Retrospect Ensemble was described by Gramophone's critic David Vickers: 'I've heard many lovely performances of this aria (Seele, deine Spezereien) but do not recall hearing the text communicated with such heart-rending consolation as this.'

Previous Chief Conductors of Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra include Hannu Lintu and John Storgårds, prior to Rouvali's appointment in 2013, with a large catalogue of recordings, largely for Ondine.