The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra undertook a four-concert tour to Spain and Italy in May, with conductor Hannu Lintu and pianist Nikolai Lugansky. The tour marks the continuation of a long-standing touring partnership between HarrisonParrott and the Orchestra, whose international reputation has grown considerably in recent years.

The programme comprised Sibelius’ Pohjola’s Daughter and Symphony No.2, and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1.

The tour opened with two dates in Spain — Pamplona on 12 May and Zaragoza on 13 May. The orchestra then traveled to Italy for concerts in Ravenna on 15 May and Modena on 16 May. All four concerts were broadcast live or recorded for later broadcast by Finnish Radio/​YLE.

Hannu Lintu becomes Chief Conductor of the Orchestra — where he currently holds the post of Principal Guest Conductor — in September 2013. Recent highlights of Lintu’s season include an acclaimed performance of Sibelius’ Symphony No.5 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and a number of guest engagements in the US, including Baltimore Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, and Houston Symphony orchestras.

Highlights of Nikolai Lugansky’s season so far include the release on the Naïve Ambroisie label of an award-winning CD featuring Rachmaninov’s Piano Sonatas, and highly successful debuts with the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony orchestras.