Sakari Oramo

Sakari Markus Oramo OBE[1] (born 26 October 1965) is a Finnish conductor. He is Chief Conductor of both the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.

Biography and career

Oramo was born in Helsinki, and started his career as a violinist and concertmaster of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1989, he enrolled in Jorma 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. This led to his appointment as Co-Principal Conductor. Oramo has also worked with Finland's Avanti! ensemble.[2] 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.[3]

In September 1996, Oramo was named Principal Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), having conducted the CBSO in two concerts prior to that appointment. He then assumed the post as Music Director and Artistic Advisor in 1998.[4] His work in Birmingham included the Floof! festival of contemporary music.[5] He also championed the music of John Foulds in concerts and recordings with the CBSO.[6][7] From 2003 to 2012[8], Oramo was sole Principal Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.[9]

He was at the forefront of the Edward Elgar sesquicentenary celebrations in 2007, and was awarded the Elgar Medal in 2008 for his efforts in advancing Elgar's music. 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.[7][12]

In September 2008, Oramo became Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. His initial contract in Stockholm was for three years.[13][14] With the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, he has recorded symphonies of Robert Schumann.[13] 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.[15] He has made commercial recordings with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic for such labels as BIS.[16]

In October 2011, Oramo made his first guest conducting appearance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra,[17] his first guest-conducting engagement with any London orchestra. On the basis of this concert, in February 2012, Oramo was named the 13th Chief Conductor of the BBCSO, effective with the First Night of the 2013 Proms season.[18][19] His initial contract was for 3 years, with a pending subsequent option for an additional 2 years.[3] Oramo held the title of Chief Conductor Designate for the 2012–2013 season.[20] In September 2015, the BBCSO announced the extension of his contract to the 2019-2020 season.[21] In May 2018, the BBCSO indicated a further extension of Oramo's contract through 2022.[22] He has recorded commercially with the BBCSO with such labels as harmonia mundi.[23]

Oramo is married to the Finnish soprano Anu Komsi, and they have two sons, Taavi and Leevi.[24] In May 2009, Oramo was awarded an honorary OBE for services to music in Birmingham.[1] Oramo and Komsi, together with Annika Mylläri and Robert McLoud, founded West Coast Kokkola Opera in 2004. Oramo currently serves as its vice chairman and principal conductor.

On 14 September 2019 Oramo was the conductor, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the BBC Singers, for the Last Night of the Proms, for the fourth time.[25][26]

References

1. William Oliphant (11 May 2009). "Honorary OBE for CBSO's Oramo". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 2009-05-13.
2. Andrew Clements (25 October 2000). "Avanti!/Oramo". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
3. "Sakari Oramo is to become BBC Symphony Orchestra's next chief conductor". Helsingin Sanomat – International Edition. 2012-02-23. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
4. Tom Service (13 August 1999). "This man isn't rattled". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
5. Tom Service (31 May 2003). "Floof!". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
6. Peter Culshaw (26 April 2006). "Visionary genius of the spirit world". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
7. Sakari Oramo (28 April 2006). "The forgotten man". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
8. "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. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
9. "Sakari Oramo (Conductor) - Short Biography". www.bach-cantatas.com.
10. Terry Grimley (23 February 2006). "Who will pick up Oramo's baton?". The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
11. Charlotte Higgins (26 April 2007). "Orchestras urge free concerts for children". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-08-18.
12. Sakari Oramo (25 July 2007). "Stand up for the maestro". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
13. Andrew Clements (2010-07-15). "Schumann: Symphonies Nos 1 & 2 – Royal Stockholm PO/Oramo (Sony Classical)". The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-09-29.
14. Vivien Schweitzer (2006-03-31). "Sakari Oramo to Succeed Alan Gilbert at Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
15. "Sakari Oramo Chief Conductor". Konserthuset Stockholm. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
16. Stephen Pritchard (2015-05-03). "Nielsen: Symphony No 2, 'The Four Temperaments'; Symphony No 6 'Sinfonia Semplice' CD review – blistering accounts of fine companion pieces". The Observer. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
17. Andrew Clements (2011-10-31). "BBCSO/Oramo – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
18. "BBC Symphony Orchestra announces new Chief Conductor" (Press release). BBC. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
19. Tom Service (2015-07-10). "Conductor Sakari Oramo: the Finn's First Night at the Proms". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
20. Alex Needham (2012-02-23). "Sakari Oramo to become BBC Symphony Orchestra chief conductor". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-02-23.
21. "Chief Conductor Sakari Oramo to remain at helm of BBC Symphony Orchestra until 2020" (Press release). BBC. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
22. "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. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
23. Erica Jeal (2015-05-28). "Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor and 12 Lyric Pieces CD review – an expansive, romantic interpretation". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
24. Jenny Leonardz (10 September 2008). "Musiklek på blodigt allvar". Svenska Dagbladet. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
25. "BBC Radio 3 - BBC Proms, 2019, Last Night of the Proms, part 2". BBC.
26. "Last Night of the Proms: Part One - what time is it on TV? Cast list and preview".

External links

• Sakari Oramo biography at HarrisonParrott Agency
• Royal Stockholm Philharmonic / Konserthus Swedish-language page on Sakari Oramo
• Sakari Oramo biography at Hyperion Records
• Sakari Oramo biography at Ondine Records
• Sakari Oramo biography at Warner Classics

Cultural offices
Preceded by Jukka-Pekka Saraste	Principal Conductor, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra 2003–2012	Succeeded by Hannu Lintu
Preceded by Alan Gilbert	Principal Conductor, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra 2008–present	Succeeded by incumbent
Preceded by Juha Kangas	Artistic Director, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra 2013–present	Succeeded by incumbent