BIOGRAPHY
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor: Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (from 2013/14)
Principal Guest Conductor: Copenhagen Philharmonic (from 2013/14)
Artist in Association: Tapiola Sinfonietta
Following outstanding debuts, Santtu-Matias Rouvali has been immediately invited to return to the hr-Sinfonieorchester, Philharmonia, Dresdner Philharmonie and Tokyo Symphony orchestras. He has recently conducted the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and will soon debut with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National, New Jersey Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony orchestras.
In 2012 Rouvali was announced as the next Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, and as Principal Guest Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra. He takes up both positions in September 2013. He is also Artist in Association with the Tapiola Sinfonietta and in 2011/12 he was chosen to take part in the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Dudamel Fellowship Programme. He continues to have strong and regular relationships with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Residentie Orkest.
In recent seasons he has worked with a number of prominent soloists, including Mischa Maisky, Alisa Weilerstein, Alison Balsom, Vilde Frang and Kirill Gerstein. He has also conducted Bizet’s Carmen and Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with Kokkola Opera.
REVIEWS
“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)
CONTACT
NEWS
Santtu-Matias Rouvali debuts with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Angela Hewitt and Santtu-Matias Rouvali appear with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali makes his debut with hr-Sinfonieorchester
Santtu-Matias Rouvali makes his Swedish debut with Swedish Radio Symphony
Rouvali appointed Chief Conductor of Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali appointed Principal Guest Conductor of Copenhagen Philharmonic
Santtu-Matias Rouvali and Yulianna Avdeeva appear with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali makes his Danish debut with Copenhagen Philharmonic
Santtu-Matias Rouvali makes his UK debut with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducts Residentie Orkest in first ever performance at Lowlands Festival
Los Angeles Philharmonic appoints Santtu-Matias Rouvali a 2011/12 Dudamel Conducting Fellow
Santtu-Matias Rouvali appointed Artist in Association of the Tapiola Sinfonietta
HarrisonParrott signs conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali





