Dynamic young Finn Santtu-Matias Rouvali has been appointed chief conductor and artistic director of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Scandinavia's foremost symphony orchestras. His three-year contract starts in August 2013.
 
Rouvali’s career is developing at a rapid pace - he will also take up the post of principal guest conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic in September 2013, following his debut with the orchestra in January 2012.
 
Last year he made several important debuts including his first UK performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, a US appearance with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra and concerts with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. He conducted Sibelius in both America and Japan bringing his own national music abroad.
 
In the 2012/13 season he has European engagements with Frankfurt’s hr-Sinfonieorchester, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Swedish Radio Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic and Philharmonia orchestras, and will make his first recording with Ondine.  Although embarking upon an international career, he still maintains contacts closer to home and continues his relationship with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra by conducting a number of concerts per season.

Maria Le Brun