Santtu-Matias Rouvali

“Under the elegant, flexible conducting of Santtu-Matias Rouvali – just 27 years old – [Saariaho’s] Laterna Magica revealed an abundant sound world: alternately silky and spiky, vibrant and sensual. The audience was plunged into an immersive listening… The orchestra was transformed by the dazzling energy of the young Finnish conductor… in recognition of this wonderful evening, they enthusiastically applauded Rouvali. Already famous in Finland, his incredible talent was greeted most warmly by the Parisian public.” (Michele Tosi, resmusica.com, April 2013)

“Total physical response, fluid conducting movements, technical skill with very clear signalling and analytical penetration of the score, are the best that even experienced conductors hope for in order to create an exceptional musical experience.  Rouvali has all of this, and the resultant sound is as brilliant as it is explosive... It was amazing how Rouvali created the most sophisticated sounds with fine dynamic gradation, by virtue of historically-informed performance practice.  It recreated a little of the striking novelty that the audience must have felt at the work’s premiere... Rouvali’s interpretation of Sibelius’ Symphony No.1 was marked by the utmost vigour, vitality and sound-saturated urgency.  He understands the musical structure with absolute clarity, which leads the music to the very limits of tonal possibilities, and thereby produces elastic phrases of enormous potency… an electrifying performance…rightly cheered at the end.”  (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, January 2013).

“This is a conductor who not only carries the score in his head, but also carries the music of his homeland in his heart...it is no wonder that the instrumentalists of the orchestra were inspired.” (Fuldaer Zeitung, January 2013)

"Rouvali, who is creating a stir at an international level, showed a great flair for Beethoven with the Egmont Overture. He created beautiful contrasts between the grandeur of the piece and the lyrics with perfectly measured dynamics. He has a fluttering, strongly upward gesture, which enhances the orchestral tone with air and transparency. Dvorak’s Eighth was a passionate performance - atmospheric, elegant, compelling, imposing and exuberant." (NRC Handelsblad, July 2012)