# Okko Kamu, Conductor

> Okko Kamu, Conductor – 12 recordings on Ondine. Okko Kamu was born in 1946 into a musical family in Helsinki, where his father played double bass in the…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/kamu-okko

- **Role:** Conductor

## Biography

Okko Kamu was born in 1946 into a musical family in Helsinki, where his father played double bass in the Helsinki Philharmonic. At the age of two, Kamu started studying the violin with Väinö Arjava, the leader of the orchestra. In 1952, he continued with Onni Suhonen at the Sibelius Academy, where he also began studies on the piano. He became the leader of the Suhonen Quartet in 1964.

In 1965, Kamu started his professional career in the Helsinki Philharmonic, and in 1966 was elected to become Concertmaster of the Finnish National Opera orchestra. In 1967, the National Opera offered him the post of third conductor, with responsibilities including ballets, operettas and his own production of Britten's The Turn of the Screw. In 1969, he accepted the position of guest conductor of the Swedish Royal Opera in Stockholm and later that year won first prize in the first International Karajan Conducting Competition in Berlin, which led to an extensive international career.

Okko Kamu went on to hold the position of Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1970-1977), the Oslo Philharmonic (1975-1979), the Helsinki Philharmonic (1981-1988), the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra (1990-1999), and the Finnish National Opera (1996-1999). He was also Principal Guest Conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Copenhagen Philharmonic.

Having conducted the leading orchestras around the world, including the Berlin and the Vienna Philharmonic, and in the US the Chicago and the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestras, Okko Kamu became the Chief Conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra from 2011 to 2016. He has also been a member of the Swedish Royal Music Academy since 1994.

## Discography on Ondine (12)

- [Aulis Sallinen: Highlights · 90th Anniversary Album](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1490-2.md): Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Ville Matvejeff · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu · Tapiola Sinfonietta, Osmo Vänskä · Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Ulf Söderblom (ODE 1490-2, 2025)
- [Finland 100: A Century of Finnish Classics · 5 CD collection celebrating 100 years of Finland's independence · Orchestral Works I & II · Concertos · Vocal Works · Chamber Music](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1300-2q.md): Various Finnish artist, orchestras and conductors (ODE 1300-2Q, 2016)
- [Aulis Sallinen: King Lear · Opera in Two Acts · DVD video](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4010.md): Matti Salminen · Lilli Paasikivi, Taina Piira, Satu Vihavainen, Jorma Hynninen, Sauli Tiilikainen, Jorma Silvasti, Aki alamikkotervo, Hannu Forsberg (ODV 4010, 2015)
- [Richard Strauss: Three Hymns & Opera Arias](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1202-2.md): Soile Isokoski, soprano · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor (ODE 1202-2, 2012)
- [Aulis Sallinen: The King Goes Forth to France - Opera in Three Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1066-2d.md): Tommi Hakala, baritone · Jyrki Korhonen, bass · Riikka Rantanen, mezzo-soprano · Lilli Paasikivi, mezzo-soprano · Mari Palo, soprano · Laura Nykänen, contralto · Jyrki Anttila, tenor · Herman Wallén, baritone · Santeri Kinnunen, spoken role · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor (ODE 1066-2D, 2006)
- [A Tribute to Martti Talvela](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-945-2.md): Martti Talvela, bass · Various Pianists · Finnish RSO · Various Conductors (ODE 945-2, 1999)
- [Pekka Nuotio: Opera Arias. Recordings 1973-1981](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-900-2.md): Pekka Nuotio, tenor · Finnish RSO · Various Conductors (ODE 900-2, 1997)
- [Aulis Sallinen: Songs of Life and Death · The Iron Age Suite](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-844-2.md): Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Opera Festival Chorus · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor (ODE 844-2, 1995)
- [Benjamin Britten: Piano Concerto · Soirées musicales · Matinées musicales](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-825-2.md): Ralf Gothóni, piano · Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor (ODE 825-2, 1994)
- [Aurora Borealis: The Magic of Northern Lights](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1137-2.md): Photo album + CD (ODE 1137-2, 2008)
- [Jorma Hynninen: Profile of a Great Career](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-944-2.md): Classic Stars Chamber Orchestra · Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra · Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor · Pekka Haapasalo, conductor · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Kari Tikka, conductor · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · Pentti Koskimies, piano · Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Estonian Symphony Orchestra · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Ralf Gothóni, piano · Aira Johansson, piano · Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jorma Panula, conductor · Joensuu City Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor · Markus Lehtinen, conductor (ODE 944-2, 1999)
- [Aurora Borealis: Magic of the Mysterious North](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-937-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 937-2, 1999)