Biography
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra ranks among Europe's most daring ensembles and stands out in a nation boasting more symphonies per capita than anywhere else. Headquartered in Helsinki, the group serves as the flagship radio orchestra for the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yle. Its extensive recorded legacy stretches back to 1939, and under chief conductor Nicholas Collon the ensemble committed to disc Magnus Lindberg: Viola Concerto; Absence; Serenades alongside Outi Tarkiainen: Midnight Sun Variations during 2024.
Established in 1927 as a modest studio group within the state broadcaster Finnish Radio under Erkki Linko, the ensemble expanded steadily and attained full symphony-orchestra dimensions by 1947; today it fields roughly ninety musicians. While its core programming centers on Classical and Romantic repertoire, the orchestra also regularly programs works from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Toivo Haapanen served as its inaugural chief conductor from 1929 to 1950. Every concert reaches listeners via broadcast, and the orchestra has amassed dozens of recordings; its earliest, made in 1939, remains the sole surviving document of Jean Sibelius on the podium. Among the distinguished chief conductors who followed are Paavo Berglund (1962-1971), Leif Segerstam (1977-1987), Jukka-Pekka Saraste (1987-2001), and Sakari Oramo (2003-2012). During Saraste's tenure, touring became routine, carrying the orchestra across Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Canary Islands.
Through both performances and recordings the Finnish Radio Symphony has emerged as a leading champion of living Finnish composers, introducing each year newly commissioned scores funded by the broadcaster. Its catalog has spotlighted Aulis Sallinen, Joonas Kokkonen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and numerous others. A 2005 release of Magnus Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto garnered a Gramophone Award. Hannu Lintu assumed the chief-conductorship in 2013 and guided the orchestra to a second Gramophone Award with the 2018 album Bartók: Violin Concertos, featuring violinist Christian Tetzlaff. In 2019 the ensemble appeared on the Ondine disc Kaija Saariaho: True Fire; Trans; Ciel d'hiver, which received a Grammy Award nomination. Nicholas Collon succeeded Lintu in 2021 and led three albums in 2023 alone; the following year the orchestra recorded further Lindberg works spotlighting violist Lawrence Power as well as Outi Tarkiainen: Midnight Sun Variations.
Established in 1927 as a modest studio group within the state broadcaster Finnish Radio under Erkki Linko, the ensemble expanded steadily and attained full symphony-orchestra dimensions by 1947; today it fields roughly ninety musicians. While its core programming centers on Classical and Romantic repertoire, the orchestra also regularly programs works from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Toivo Haapanen served as its inaugural chief conductor from 1929 to 1950. Every concert reaches listeners via broadcast, and the orchestra has amassed dozens of recordings; its earliest, made in 1939, remains the sole surviving document of Jean Sibelius on the podium. Among the distinguished chief conductors who followed are Paavo Berglund (1962-1971), Leif Segerstam (1977-1987), Jukka-Pekka Saraste (1987-2001), and Sakari Oramo (2003-2012). During Saraste's tenure, touring became routine, carrying the orchestra across Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Canary Islands.
Through both performances and recordings the Finnish Radio Symphony has emerged as a leading champion of living Finnish composers, introducing each year newly commissioned scores funded by the broadcaster. Its catalog has spotlighted Aulis Sallinen, Joonas Kokkonen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and numerous others. A 2005 release of Magnus Lindberg's Clarinet Concerto garnered a Gramophone Award. Hannu Lintu assumed the chief-conductorship in 2013 and guided the orchestra to a second Gramophone Award with the 2018 album Bartók: Violin Concertos, featuring violinist Christian Tetzlaff. In 2019 the ensemble appeared on the Ondine disc Kaija Saariaho: True Fire; Trans; Ciel d'hiver, which received a Grammy Award nomination. Nicholas Collon succeeded Lintu in 2021 and led three albums in 2023 alone; the following year the orchestra recorded further Lindberg works spotlighting violist Lawrence Power as well as Outi Tarkiainen: Midnight Sun Variations.
Albums

Sibelius: Orchestral Works
2025

Sibelius: Serenade No. 1 in D major
2025

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38
2025

Grazyna Bacewicz: Piano Concerto; Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra; Overture; Music for Strings, Trumpets and Percussion
2023

Adès: Orchestral Works
2022

Sibelius: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 105, Suite from "King Christian II", Op. 27 & Suite from "Pelléas et Mélisande", Op. 46
2022

Piece of My Heart (Original Television Soundtrack)
2021

Antti Auvinen: Junker Twist, Himmel Punk & Turbo Aria
2020

Tauno Marttinen: Orchestral Works
2020

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5
2020

Lindberg: Accused & Two Episodes
2020

Lutosławski: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3
2020

Sibelius: Kullervo, Op. 7
2019

Society of Finnish Composers 50th Anniversary 1995, Vol. 3
2019

Zimmermann: Violin Concerto, Photoptosis, Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony
2019

Lutosławski: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4 & Jeux vénitiens
2018

Magnus Lindberg: Tempus fugit & Violin Concerto No. 2
2018

Bartók: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
2018

Sebastian Fagerlund: Drifts, Stonework & Guitar Concerto "Transit"
2018

Sibelius: Tapiola, En saga & Songs
2017

Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5
2017

Tüür: Peregrinus ecstaticus - Le poids des vies non vécues - Noēsis
2017

Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3 & 4
2016

Melartin: Orchestral Works
2016

Magnus Lindberg: Al largo, Cello Concerto No. 2 & Era
2016

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major & Blumine
2015

Wennäkoski: Soie, Hava & Amor omnia Suite
2015

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Legends & Pohjola's Daughter
2015

Fagerlund: Darkness in Light
2015

Berio: Ritirata notturna di Madrid, Calmo & Sinfonia
2014

Nordgren: Clarinet Concerto & Symphony No. 1
2014

Messiaen: Turangalîla-symphonie
2014

Tans-Si-Aiset
2013

Ligeti: Violin Concerto, Lontano, Atmosphères & San Francisco Polyphony
2013

John-Edward Kelly Plays Anders Eliasson
2013

Pohjola: Symphonies 1 & 2
2013

Saariaho: La passion de Simone
2013

Madetoja : Symphony No.3; The Ostrobothnians, Suite Op.52; Okon Fuoko, Suite Op.58
2013

Salonen: "Out Of Nowhere" - Violin Concerto; Nyx
2012

Salonen: Out of Nowhere (Violin Concerto); Nyx
2012

Salonen: WIng on Wing; Dichotomie
2005

Wing on Wing
2005

Magnus Lindberg: Clarinet Concerto, Gran duo & Chorale
2005

Elgar / Dvorák : Cello Concertos - Bartók : Rhapsody No.1
1998

Jean Sibelius : Complete Symphonies
1998

Pingoud: Symphonic Poems
1996

Kokkonen: Durch einen Spiegel & Symphonies Nos. 1 and 4
1996

Kaipainen: Symphony No. 2; Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra; Sisyphus Dreams
1995

Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante
1995

Klami: Works for Orchestra
1995

Leif Segerstam: Symphony No. 18; Epitaph No. 6; Impressions of Nordic Nature No. 4
1994

Hämeenniemi: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 2
1994

Nielsen / Ibert / Jolivet: Flute Concertos
1993

Stravinsky: Le chant du rossignol, Symphony in C & Symphony in 3 Movements
1992

Segerstam: Symphony No. 11 / Symphony No. 14
1992

Paavo Heininen: Symphony No. 3 & ... Floral view with maidens singing ....
1989

Nordgren / Bergman: Violin Concertos / Segerstam: A Last Melodioso
1987
Live



