Press information, 26 September 2024, Riga. The outstanding maestro and teacher of many world-famous conductors, the “father” of the Finnish conducting school, Jorma Panula, will perform in Riga on 5 October. At a concert at the House of the Riga Latvian Society, together with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO), he will conduct Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto (soloist Egils Upatnieks) and Finnish national composer Jean Sibelius’ Second Symphony. One of maestro Jorma Panula’s students is none other than LNSO artistic director and chief conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, making this a truly special musical encounter.
Maestro Jorma Panula (b. 1930) is one of the most renowned teachers of outstanding conductors – among his students are Finnish conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mikko Franck, Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Klaus Makela. LNSO artistic director and chief conductor Tarmo Peltokoski also pursued his studies under this outstanding master. The legendary maestro has also served as artistic director and chief conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. He is currently a sought-after guest conductor who has placed teaching at the forefront of his work. Jorma Panula’s masterclasses are recognised worldwide, and especially prestigious is the international competition he founded, the “Jorma Panula International Conducting Competition,” held since 1999.
Speaking about his teacher, Tarmo Peltokoski says: “Jorma Panula is an unrepeatable conducting mentor, a true living legend! My first meeting with Jorma Panula was in 2014, and in the years that followed I learned from him the skills a conductor needs. But he also taught me a great deal about life. Jorma Panula celebrated his 94th birthday in August, yet nothing suggests he intends to stop. Panula’s name is known throughout the world. He is regarded with respect and awe. Among all Finnish musicians, in terms of historical influence he can be compared to Sibelius himself.”
The upcoming LNSO meeting with Jorma Panula is taking place in cooperation with the Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA). Following a special selection process in which Tarmo Peltokoski also took part as an evaluator, JVLMA students will have the unique opportunity to conduct the orchestra in rehearsals under the supervision of maestro Jorma Panula. “I am especially honoured to invite my teacher to conduct the orchestra I lead, the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. The opportunity for my musicians to work with the great maestro is an exclusive privilege that will be talked about for a long time. The concert and masterclass led by Panula will be an international event, reflecting the considerable interest in him,” says Tarmo Peltokoski proudly. “I changed my own artistic plans for the sake of this concert, in order to be present at this special event.”
The concert will feature Jean Sibelius’ Second Symphony and Richard Strauss’ Oboe Concerto, with the LNSO’s principal oboist Egils Upatnieks as soloist. He is a member of the Denmark-based wind quintet Carion, performing regularly in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and elsewhere. As a soloist he has performed with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Concertante, the Vidzeme Chamber Orchestra, the Baltic Music Academy Chamber Orchestra, the Odense Symphony Orchestra and others.
The concert at the House of the Riga Latvian Society on 5 October begins at 19:00. Tickets are available at “Bilesu Paradize” sales points and online.