Helsinki Philharmonic Rethinks Its Artistic Leadership

Susanna Mälkki’s seven-year-tenure as chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic has been so successful that it will take two conductors and a composer to fill her shoes when she leaves in summer of 2023. The Philharmonic has announced a “new artistic model,” which puts Jukka-Pekka Saraste in the post of chief conductor and, in his first official job as a conductor, Pekka Kuusisto as principal guest conductor, and U.S.-based Anna Clyne as the orchestra’s first composer-in-residence.

Saraste is contracted to lead eight programs per season, Kuusisto four, and Clyne to write several orchestral works as well as be involved in artistic decision-making. The conductor contracts are for three years each; the composer’s for one year. All three start officially in fall 2023.

The new leaders: Anna Clyne, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Pekka Kuusisto

Philharmonic General Manager Aleksi Malmberg called the move “an inspiring next step for the 140-year-old HPO,” noting the value, now more than ever, of “unity, creativity and collaboration.”

Saraste, who made his debut with the orchestra in 1983, is a well-travelled maestro, having served at the artistic helms of the WDR Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony, and the Toronto Symphony. He’s also active as a guest on international podiums. He has worked frequently with Kuusisto, a solo violinist and the artistic leader of Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, as well as artistic partner with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Mahler Chamber Orchestra, collaborative partner of San Francisco Symphony, and ‘‘artistic best friend“ of Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.

London-born Anna Clyne is a composer of acoustic and electro-acoustic music and known for her collaborations with the new generation of choreographers, visual artists, filmmakers, and musicians. Her appointment seems quite an honor given the context:  Saraste commented, "The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra has an incredible history of providing a platform for composers since the early works of Sibelius."