Wikipedia

Sakari Oramo

Sakari Markus Oramo,OBE[1](born 26 October 1965) is aFinnishconductor.He is chief conductor of theBBC Symphony Orchestra.

Sakari Oramo
OBE
Born
Sakari Markus Oramo

(1965-10-26)26 October 1965(age 59)
Helsinki,Finland
Alma materSibelius Academy,Helsinki
Occupation(s)Conductorofclassical music
(active 1993–present)
Known forConductor of
SpouseAnu Komsi(m.1988)
Children2

Biography and career

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Born inHelsinki,Oramo is the son of two music academics who taught at theSibelius Academy,Ilkka Oramo, a professor of music theory, and Liisa Pohjola, a piano professor.[2]His sister is Anna-Maaria Oramo. Oramo started his career as a violinist andconcertmasterof theFinnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.In 1989, he enrolled inJorma Panula's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy. In 1993, just one year after completing the course, he stood in for a sick conductor with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Oramo has also worked with Finland'sAvanti!ensemble.[3]Oramo became principal guest conductor of the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra in 1995, and one of its principal conductors in 2009. In 2013, he became the orchestra's artistic director.[4]

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

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In September 1996, Oramo was named principal conductor of theCity of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra(CBSO), having conducted the CBSO in two concerts prior to that appointment. He then assumed the post of music director and artistic advisor in 1998.[5]His work in Birmingham included the Floof! festival of contemporary music.[6]He also championed the music ofJohn Fouldsin concerts and recordings with the CBSO.[7][8]

Oramo was at the forefront of theEdward Elgarsesquicentenary celebrations in 2007, and was awarded theElgar Medalin 2008 for his efforts in advancing Elgar's music.[9]In 2008, Oramo stepped down as the CBSO's music director and became the orchestra's principal guest conductor for the 2008–2009 season.[10]

In April 2007, Oramo was one of eight conductors of British orchestras to endorse the 10-year classical music outreach manifesto, "Building on Excellence: Orchestras for the 21st Century", to increase the presence of classical music in the UK, including giving free entry to all British schoolchildren to a classical music concert.[11]In addition to his conducting and recording work, Oramo has also published newspaper articles on music.[8][12]

European career

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From 2003 to 2012,[13]Oramo was sole principal conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.[14]Oramo and his wife Anu Komsi, together with Annika Mylläri and Robert McLoud, founded West CoastKokkolaOpera in 2004. Oramo has served as its vice chairman and principal conductor.

In September 2008, Oramo became chief conductor and artistic advisor of theRoyal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.His initial contract in Stockholm was for three years.[15][16]With the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, he has recorded symphonies ofRobert Schumann.[15]In 2011, Oramo's contract with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic was extended to 2015. In April 2016, his Stockholm contract was further extended to 2021.[17]He concluded his chief conductorship of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic at the close of the 2020–2021 season.[18]He has made commercial recordings with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic for such labels asBIS.[19]

In March 2023, Oramo first guest-conducted theGürzenich Orchestra Cologne.In October 2024, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne announced the appointment of Oramo to the newly-created position of 'Artistic Partner', effective with the 2025–2026 season, with an initial contract of five seasons.[20][21]

BBC Symphony Orchestra

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In October 2011, Oramo made his first guest conducting appearance with theBBC Symphony Orchestra[22](BBC SO), his first guest-conducting engagement with any London orchestra.[23]On the basis of this concert, in February 2012, Oramo was named the 13th chief conductor of the BBC SO, effective with the First Night of the 2013Proms season.[24][25]His initial contract was for 3 years, with a pending subsequent option for an additional 2 years.[4]Oramo held the title of chief conductor designate for the 2012–2013 season.[26]In September 2015, the BBC SO announced the extension of his contract to the 2019–2020 season.[27]In May 2018, the BBC SO indicated a further extension of Oramo's contract through 2022.[28]

In October 2020, the BBC SO announced a further extension of Oramo's contract as chief conductor through September 2023.[29]In April 2022, the BBC SO announced an additional extension of Oramo's contract as its chief conductor through the end of the 2025–2026 season.[30]In September 2024, the BBC SO announced a further extension of Oramo's contract as its chief conductor to 2030.[31]He has recorded commercially with the BBC SO with such labels as harmonia mundi[32]and Chandos,[33]including the second commercial recording of William Alwyn'sMiss Julie.[34]

Additional biography

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Oramo and Komsi have two sons, Taavi and Leevi.[35]In May 2009, Oramo was awarded an honoraryOBEfor services to music in Birmingham.[1]In March 2017, the Sibelius Academy announced the appointment of Oramo as professor of orchestral training and orchestral conducting, with a contract scheduled from 1 January 2020 through 31 December 2024.[36]Oramo is scheduled to conclude his academic contract with the Sibelius Academy at the close of the 2024–2025 academic year.[37]

References

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  1. ^abWilliam Oliphant (11 May 2009)."Honorary OBE for CBSO's Oramo".Birmingham Post.Archived fromthe originalon 13 March 2012.Retrieved13 May2009.
  2. ^John Allison (12 July 2024)."Last Night of the Proms conductor: why I won't touch Russian music".BBC Music Magazine.Retrieved13 September2024.
  3. ^Andrew Clements (25 October 2000)."Avanti!/Oramo".The Guardian.Retrieved18 August2007.
  4. ^ab"Sakari Oramo is to become BBC Symphony Orchestra's next chief conductor".Helsingin Sanomat – International Edition.23 February 2012.Retrieved23 February2012.
  5. ^Tom Service(13 August 1999)."This man isn't rattled".The Guardian.Retrieved18 August2007.
  6. ^Tom Service (31 May 2003)."Floof!".The Guardian.Retrieved18 August2007.
  7. ^Peter Culshaw (26 April 2006)."Visionary genius of the spirit world".The Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2006.Retrieved18 August2007.
  8. ^abSakari Oramo (28 April 2006)."The forgotten man".The Guardian.Retrieved1 September2007.
  9. ^Bill Kenny (January–June 2008)."Sakari Oramo Awarded The Elgar Medal".Seen and Heard International.Retrieved18 April2022.
  10. ^Terry Grimley (23 February 2006)."Who will pick up Oramo's baton?".The Birmingham Post.Retrieved18 August2007.
  11. ^Charlotte Higgins (26 April 2007)."Orchestras urge free concerts for children".The Guardian.Retrieved18 August2007.
  12. ^Sakari Oramo (25 July 2007)."Stand up for the maestro".The Guardian.Retrieved1 September2007.
  13. ^"Sakari Oramo's Term as Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra to end in 2012"(Press release). Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 3 September 2010.Retrieved29 September2010.
  14. ^"Sakari Oramo (Conductor) – Short Biography".bach-cantatas.
  15. ^abAndrew Clements (15 July 2010)."Schumann: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 – Royal Stockholm PO/Oramo (Sony Classical)".The Guardian.Retrieved29 September2010.
  16. ^Vivien Schweitzer (31 March 2006)."Sakari Oramo to Succeed Alan Gilbert at Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra".Playbill Arts.Retrieved1 September2007.
  17. ^"Sakari Oramo Chief Conductor".Konserthuset Stockholm.Retrieved6 December2019.
  18. ^"Sista säsongen för Sakari Oramo".iMusiken.22 April 2020.Retrieved28 August2020.
  19. ^Stephen Pritchard (3 May 2015)."Nielsen: Symphony No 2, 'The Four Temperaments'; Symphony No 6 'Sinfonia Semplice' CD review – blistering accounts of fine companion pieces".The Observer.Retrieved13 June2015.
  20. ^"Sakari Oramo zum Artistic Partner des Gürzenich-Orchester Köln ernannt"(PDF)(Press release). Gürzenich Orchestra Köln. 19 November 2024.Retrieved26 November2024.
  21. ^"Sakari Oramo appointed Artistic Partner of Gürzenich-Orchester Köln"(Press release). HarrisonParrott. 18 November 2024.Retrieved26 November2024.
  22. ^Andrew Clements (31 October 2011)."BBCSO/Oramo – review".The Guardian.Retrieved24 February2012.
  23. ^Alex Needham (23 February 2012)."Sakari Oramo to become BBC Symphony Orchestra chief conductor".The Guardian.Retrieved16 September2024.
  24. ^"BBC Symphony Orchestra announces new Chief Conductor"(Press release). BBC. 23 February 2012.Retrieved24 February2012.
  25. ^Tom Service (10 July 2015)."Conductor Sakari Oramo: the Finn's First Night at the Proms".The Guardian.Retrieved13 June2015.
  26. ^Alex Needham (23 February 2012)."Sakari Oramo to become BBC Symphony Orchestra chief conductor".The Guardian.Retrieved23 February2012.
  27. ^"Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo to remain at helm of BBC Symphony Orchestra until 2020"(Press release). BBC. 25 September 2015.Retrieved28 September2015.
  28. ^"We're thrilled to announce that our Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo has extended his contract with us until 2022".BBC Symphony Orchestra. 18 May 2018.Retrieved27 January2019.
  29. ^"Sakari Oramo extends contract as Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra"(Press release). Harrison Parrott. 22 October 2020.Retrieved30 October2020.
  30. ^"Sakari Oramo extends his contract as Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra"(Press release). Harrison Parrott. 14 April 2022.Retrieved18 April2022.
  31. ^"Sakari Oramo extends contract as Chief Conductor of BBC Symphony Orchestra"(Press release). Harrison Parrott. 11 September 2024.Retrieved12 September2024.
  32. ^Erica Jeal (28 May 2015)."Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor and 12 Lyric Pieces CD review – an expansive, romantic interpretation".The Guardian.Retrieved13 June2015.
  33. ^Andrew Clements (2 November 2023)."Bacewicz: Symphonies 3 & 4 album review – Oramo is a passionate advocate".The Guardian.Retrieved16 September2024.
  34. ^Richard Fairman (3 July 2020)."BBC Symphony Orchestra's Alwyn: Miss Julie — sensationally gripping".Financial Times.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2022.Retrieved28 August2020.
  35. ^Jenny Leonardz (10 September 2008)."Musiklek på blodigt allvar".Svenska Dagbladet.Retrieved6 December2009.
  36. ^"Sakari Oramo appointed Professor at the Sibelius Academy"(Press release). Harrison Parrott. 24 March 2017.Retrieved28 August2020.
  37. ^"Conductor Sakari Oramo: Diverse orchestral activities are the foundation of quality music education".UniArts Helsinki.12 September 2024.Retrieved13 September2024.
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Cultural offices
Preceded by Principal Conductor, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
2003–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Principal Conductor, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
2008–2021 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Juha Kangas
 Artistic Director, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
2013–2019 		Succeeded by
Malin Broman
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