# Anssi Karttunen, cello > Anssi Karttunen, cello – 15 recordings on Ondine. The Finnish cellist Anssi Karttunen is one of the most renowned and versatile musicians in the classical… Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/karttunen-anssi - **Role:** cello - **Photo:** © Irmeli Jung ## Biography The Finnish cellist Anssi Karttunen is one of the most renowned and versatile musicians in the classical music world today and enjoys a busy career as a soloist and chamber music player. He performs on modern cello, classical and baroque cellos and on violoncello piccolo. Anssi Karttunen performs all the standard cello works, but has also discovered many forgotten masterpieces and arranged a number of pieces for cello. He is a passionate advocate of contemporary music and his collaboration with composers has led him to give over 50 world premieres of works by composers such as Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho (including Notes on Light in 2007, which he recorded; [ODE 1130-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1130-2)), Rolf Wallin, Luca Francesconi and Tan Dun. Anssi Karttunen has worked with outstanding orchestras such as Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony, London Sinfonietta, NHK Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, SWR Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Residentie Orchestra, Dutch Radio Philharmonic, Dutch Radio Chamber Ochestra, Barcelona Opera Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Orchestra, Danish Radio Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, RAI Torino, Luxembourg Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Avanti! and many others. He performs at major festivals in Europe including Edinburgh, Salzburg, Lockenhaus, Spoleto, Berlin, Venice, Montpellier, Strasbourg and Helsinki. Anssi Karttunen was born in 1960. His teachers included Erkki Rautio, William Pleeth, Jacqueline du Pré and Tibor de Machula. Between 1994 and 1998, he was Artistic Director of the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra. He was also Artistic Director of the 1995 Helsinki Biennale and the Suvisoitto-Festival in Porvoo, Finland from 1994-1997. From December 1999 to June 2005, Anssi Karttunen was Principal Cellist of the London Sinfonietta. He has also appeared as conductor: in February 2000 he conducted Lindberg's Kraft in Antwerp on short notice and in January 2003 he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic Cello Ensemble. Anssi Karttunen plays a cello by Francesco Ruggeri. ## Discography on Ondine (15) - [Kaija Saariaho: Touches - Complete Works for Piano and Harpsichord](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1469-2.md): Tuija Hakkila, piano & harpsichord · Anssi Karttunen, cello (ODE 1469-2, 2025) - [Kaija Saariaho: 70 Years · (Digital album)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1407-2.md): Various (ODE 1407-2, 2023) - [Peter Lieberson: Songs of Love and Sorrow · The Six Realms](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1356-2.md): Gerald Finley, baritone · Anssi Karttunen, cello · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Hannu Lintu, conductor (ODE 1356-2, 2020) - [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) - [Magnus Lindberg: Al largo · Cello Concerto No. 2 · Era](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1281-5.md): Anssi Karttunen, cello · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Hannu Lintu, conductor (ODE 1281-5, 2016) - [Kaija Saariaho: Let the Wind Speak, works with flute](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1276-2.md): Camilla Hoitenga, flute · Anssi Karttunen, cello · Daniel Belcher, baritone · Heloise Dautry, harp · Da Camera of Houston (ODE 1276-2, 2015) - [Kaija Saariaho: Trios](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1189-2.md): Steven Dann, viola · Pia Freund, soprano · Tuija Hakkila, piano · Mikael Helasvuo, alto flute · Florent Jodelet, percussion · Anssi Karttunen, cello · Ernst Kovacic, violin (ODE 1189-2, 2012) - [Magnus Lindberg: Chamber Works](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1199-2.md): Kari Kriikku · Anssi Karttunen · Magnus Lindberg (ODE 1199-2, 2012) - [Kaija Saariaho: Works for Orchestra](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1113-2q.md): Jukka-Pekka Saraste (ODE 1113-2Q, 2012) - [Kaija Saariaho: Notes on Light · Orion · Mirage](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1130-2.md): Karita Mattila, soprano · Anssi Karttunen, cello · Orchestre de Paris · Christoph Eschenbach, conductor (ODE 1130-2, 2008) - [A Due: Duo works for clarinet and cello](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1102-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet and bass clarinet · Anssi Karttunen, cello (ODE 1102-2, 2007) - [Kaija Saariaho: Du cristal · ...à la fumée · Nymphéa · Sept Papillons](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1047-2.md): Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra · Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor · Kronos Quartet · Petri Alanko, alto flute · Anssi Karttunen, cello (ODE 1047-2, 2004) - [Kimmo Hakola: Clarinet Quintet · Loco · Capriole](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-960-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet · Avanti! Quartet · Anssi Karttunen, cello (ODE 960-2, 2002) - [Kaija Saariaho: Private Gardens](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-906-2.md): Camilla Hoitenga, flute · Florent Jodelet, percussion · Anssi Karttunen, cello · Dawn Upshaw, soprano (ODE 906-2, 1997) - [Aarre Merikanto: Concerto for Violin, Clarinet, Horn and String Sextet · Nonet · Works for Male Choir](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-703-2.md): Kuhmo Chamber Ensemble · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · The Polytech Choir (ODE 703-2, 1986) ## Links - [Official Website](http://www.karttunen.org/) - [Karsten Witt Musik Management](http://www.karstenwitt.com/en/artist/anssi_karttunen/)