# Mikko Franck, Conductor

> Mikko Franck, Conductor – 14 recordings on Ondine. "a conductor who can command an orchestra like few others of his or any other generation." (The Evening…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/franck-mikko

- **Role:** Conductor
- **Photo:** © Heikki Tuuli

> "a conductor who can command an orchestra like few others of his or any other generation." (The Evening Standard)

## Biography

Mikko Franck began to play the violin at the age of five and entered Helsinki's Sibelius Academy in 1992, subsequently studying in New York, Israel and Sweden.

In 2007, Mikko Franck assumed the post of General Music Director of the Finnish National Opera. Between 2002 and 2007, he was Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Orchestre National de Belgique. In recent seasons, Mikko Franck has worked with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Bamberg Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco, Chicago, Tokyo and London Symphonies, Philharmonia, Israel Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He has toured Japan with both the Bamberger Symphoniker and the Orchestre National de Belgique, and in May 2002 was Artistic Director of a Rautavaara Festival with the Helsinki Philharmonic.

At the Finnish National Opera, productions Mikko Franck has conducted have included Parsifal, The Magic Flute, L'Elisir d'Amore, Don Giovanni, La Bohème, Puccini's Manon Lescaut, Mussorgsky's Khovanschina and, in Autumn 2003, the world première of Einojuhani Rautavaara's opera Rasputin (recorded on Ondine, ODV 4003).

Mikko Franck's recording of Sibelius's En Saga and Lemminkainen Legends with the Swedish Radio Symphony ([ODE 953-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-953-2)) received outstanding reviews throughout the international press; the album won the Diapason d'Or Award and was also nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Orchestral Performance) in 2001. Other albums include Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony "Pathéthique" (2003; [ODE 1002-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1002-2)) and Rautavaara's opera House of the Sun (2003; [ODE 1032-2D](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1032-2d)). Among Mikko Franck's latest releases is an album of works by Rautavaara with the Orchestre National de Belgique ([ODE 1064-5](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1064-5)).

Franck became music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in September 2015.

## Discography on Ondine (14)

- [Apotheosis: The Best of Einojuhani Rautavaara](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1081-2.md): Various artists (ODE 1081-2, 2011)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: Aleksis Kivi - Opera in Three Acts (ODV 4009)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4009.md): Jorma Hynninen, Aleksis Kivi · Janne Reinikainen, August Ahlqvist · Riikka Rantanen, charlotta · Pauliina Linnosaari, hilda · Ville Rusanen, Young Alexis · Tobias Zilliacus, J.L. Runeberg · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODV 4009, 2011)
- [Aulis Sallinen: The Red Line - Opera in Two Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4008.md): Jorma Hynninen, topi · Päivi Nisula, riika · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODV 4008, 2010)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: The 8 Symphonies](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1145-2q.md): Leif Segerstam (ODE 1145-2Q, 2009)
- [Soile Isokoski: Scene d'amore](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1126-2.md): Soile Isokoski, soprano · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODE 1126-2, 2008)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: Book of Visions · Adagio Celeste · Symphony No. 1](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1064-5.md): National Orchestra of Belgium · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODE 1064-5, 2005)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: Rasputin - Opera in Three Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4003.md): Matti Salminen, rasputin · Lilli Paasikivi, Tsarina Alix · Jorma Hynninen, Tsar Nicholas · Jyrki Anttila, Felix Yusupov · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODV 4003, 2005)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: The House of the Sun - Tragedia Buffa. Chamber Opera in Two Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1032-2d.md): Various Soloists · Oulu Symphony Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODE 1032-2D, 2003)
- [Peter Tchaikovsky · Einojuhani Rautavaara: Symphony No. 6 "Pathétique" · Apotheosis](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1002-2.md): Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODE 1002-2, 2003)
- [Jean Sibelius: En Saga · Lemminkäinen Suite](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-953-2.md): Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODE 953-2, 2000)
- [Talven taikaa: Music for Winter Moments](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1160-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 1160-2, 2009)
- [Helsinki - A Musical Promenade: Musical CD + map](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1114-2.md): Mikko Franck, conductor · Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Tuomas Hannikainen, conductor · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Marko Ylönen, cello · Matti & Sinikka Kontio, kantele · Leif Segerstam, conductor · Pekka Kuusisto, violin · Helsinki Chamber Choir · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Soile Isokoski, soprano · Timo Nuoranne, conductor · Seppo Murto, organ (ODE 1114-2, 2008)
- [Angels and Visitations.: A Rautavaara Anthology](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1079-2d.md): Various Artists (ODE 1079-2D, 2006)
- [Sibelius Favourites: (incl. Sibelius conducts Sibelius)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-992-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 992-2, 2001)

## Links

- [Harrison Parrott](http://www.harrisonparrott.com/artists/Mikko_Franck.asp)
- [Finnish National Opera](http://www.operafin.fi/)