Jukka-Pekka Saraste

Jukka-Pekka Saraste is an internationally acclaimed conductor and violinist particularly well-known in the classical world for his connection to the works of Beethoven, Bruckner, Mahler and Sibelius. Since 2023, he has served as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and he is also Artistic Advisor to the Finnish Chamber Orchestra.

Born in Heinola, Finland, on April 22nd, 1956, Saraste studied violin at the Lahti Conservatory of Music and later conducting at the Sibelius Academy under Jorma Panula. Amongst his classmates at the academy were Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä; Saraste would go on to found the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra - a Finnish ensemble focussed on contemporary music - with Salonen (and flautist Olli Pohjola) in 1983.

Following graduation, Saraste’s first Chief Conductor role came with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra between 1987 and 2001. He has since held Conductorships with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (1987 - 1991), the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1994 - 2001), and the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra (2006 - 2013), establishing himself as one of his generation’s most versatile conductors. Additionally, he served as Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 2002 to 2005 and Artistic Advisor to the Lahti Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2011.

Between 2010 and 2019, Saraste was Chief Conductor of Cologne’s WDR Symphony, a spell which saw the orchestra enhance its reputation significantly on the world stage. In particular, the recordings he and the orchestra made of the symphonic cycles of Beethoven, Brahms and Sibelius were exceptionally well received by critics. In 2023 Saratse began an initial three-year contract as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Saraste has held guest engagements with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the London and New York Philharmonics, the Vienna Symphony and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. He boasts an extensive discography including the aforementioned recordings with WDR as well as notable works with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and two complete cycles of Sibelius’ symphonies with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Much admired in his native Finland, Saraste has received various awards and accolades for his contribution to classical music. These include the Finnish State Prize for Music in 2000, and the Insignia of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland in 2023.