# Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Conductor

> Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Conductor – 30 recordings on Ondine. Jukka-Pekka Saraste (b. 1956) has established himself as one of the exceptional conductors of his…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/saraste-jukka-pekka

- **Role:** Conductor
- **Photo:** © Bo Mathisen

## Biography

Jukka-Pekka Saraste (b. 1956) has established himself as one of the exceptional conductors of his generation, demonstrating considerable musical depth and integrity. He has been music director of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra since the 2006/07 season until 2013. In November 2008, the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne announced the appointment of Saraste as its next principal conductor, effective with the 2010–2011 season. He served in the post through the 2018–2019 season. In April 2022, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra announced the appointment of Saraste as its next chief conductor. He previously held positions as music director of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1987-2001) and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1994-2001). From 2002 to 2005 he was principal guest conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. For the Finnish Chamber Orchestra he founded the Tammisaari Festival. Guest conductor engagements have included the Filarmonica della Scala in Milan, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the London Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam, the Chicago Symphony, the Boston Symphony and the Orchestre National de France.

A strong champion of new music, Saraste has a long association with Finnish composers Saariaho, Lindberg and Salonen, and his visit to the Proms in 2000 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra included the UK première of Berio's Trombone Concerto 'Solo'. He gave the Canadian première of Henze's Symphony No. 8 in his final season as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2001.

As Music Director of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for fourteen years, he created an orchestra much admired by audiences and critics in Finland and abroad. They have toured extensively together, including major festivals such as the Edinburgh International Festival and the BBC Proms.

## Discography on Ondine (30)

- [Sibelius & Saraste: The 7 Symphonies (3 CD box set)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1525-2t.md): Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste (ODE 1525-2T, 2026)
- [Kaija Saariaho: 70 Years · (Digital album)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1407-2.md): Various (ODE 1407-2, 2023)
- [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)
- [Kaija Saariaho: Works for Orchestra](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1113-2q.md): Jukka-Pekka Saraste (ODE 1113-2Q, 2012)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Orchestral Music](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1110-2q.md): Jukka-Pekka Saraste (ODE 1110-2Q, 2011)
- [The Irresistible Karita Mattila](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1171-2.md): Karita Mattila, soprano (ODE 1171-2, 2010)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: 12 Concertos](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1156-2q.md): Vladimir Ashkenazy · Patrick Gallois · Richard Stoltzman · et al. (ODE 1156-2Q, 2009)
- [Rolf Wallin: Act · Das war schön! · Tides](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1118-2.md): Martin Grubinger, percussion · Kroumata Percussion Ensemble · Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra · Jaap van Zweden, conductor · John Axelrod, conductor · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 1118-2, 2007)
- [Kaija Saariaho: Cinq reflets de L'Amour de loin · Nymphea Reflection · Oltra mar](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1049-2.md): Pia Freund, soprano · Gabriel Suovanen, baritone · Tapiola Chamber Choir · Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 1049-2, 2004)
- [Karita Live!](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-968-2.md): Karita Mattila, soprano · Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 968-2, 2000)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Feria · Corrente II · Arena](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-911-2.md): Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 911-2, 1998)
- [Aarre Merikanto: Juha - Opera in Three Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-872-2d.md): Jorma Hynninen, juha · Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, marja · Raimo Sirkiä, shemeikka · Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 872-2D, 1996)
- [Society of Finnish Composer's 50th Anniversary, Vol. 3 · Paavo Heininen · Einojuhani Rautavaara · Harri Vuori · Erik Bergman: Adagio ... concerto per orchestra in forma di variazioni... · Regular Sets of Elements in a Semi-Regular Situation · Kri · Sub luna, Four Nocturnes for Orchestra](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-867-2.md): Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor · Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor · Leif Segerstam, conductor (ODE 867-2, 1995)
- [Eero Hämeenniemi: Violin Concerto · Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-835-2.md): Hannele Segerstam, violin · Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 835-2, 1994)
- [Jean Sibelius: The Tempest, Op. 109](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-813-2.md): Monica Groop, mezzo-soprano · Raili Viljakainen, soprano · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Jorma Silvasti, tenor · Sauli Tiilikainen, baritone · Opera Festival Chorus · Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 813-2, 1994)
- [Carl Nielsen, Jacques Ibert & André Jolivet: Flute Concertos](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-802-2.md): Petri Alanko, flute · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste (ODE 802-2, 1993)
- [Väinö Raitio: Fantasia poetica · Fantasia estatica · The Swans · The Column Fountain · Antigone](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-790-2.md): Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 790-2, 1992)
- [Sergei Prokofiev · Francis Poulenc: Pekka ja Susi · Tarina Babarista, pienestä elefantista](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-793-2.md): Lasse Pöysti, narrator · Finnish RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 793-2, 1992)
- [Magnus Lindberg: Kinetics · Marea · Joy](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-784-2.md): Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Bavarian RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 784-2, 1992)
- [Claude Debussy · Jukka Tiensuu · Jouni Kaipainen: Works for Clarinet and Orchestra](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-778-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet · Finnish RSO · Avanti! Chamber Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 778-2, 1992)
- [Einojuhani Rautavaara: Piano Concerto Nos. 1 & 2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-757-2.md): Ralf Gothóni, piano · Leipzig RSO · Max Pommer, conductor · Bavarian RSO · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor (ODE 757-2, 1991)
- [Opera Gala: Famous arias featuring · Karita Mattila · Elina Garanca · Soile Isokoski · Juha Uusitalo · Tommi Hakala · Jorma Hynninen](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1139-2f.md): Soile Isokoski, soprano · Karita Mattila, soprano · Elina Garanca, mezzo-soprano · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Tommi Hakala, baritone · Juha Uusitalo, bass-baritone · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Leif Segerstam, conductor · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Estonian Symphony Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Latvian National Symphony Orchestra · Alexandrs Vilumanis, conductor (ODE 1139-2F, 2008)
- [Finland. A Celebration of Music and Nature](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1053-2q.md): Various Finnish Artists (ODE 1053-2Q, 2008)
- [A Five Star Sibelius Celebration](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1108-2.md): Karita Mattila · Jorma Hynninen · Monica Groop · Pekka Kuusisto · Olli Mustonen (ODE 1108-2, 2007)
- [Music and Silence in Finnish Symbolism](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-684-2.md): Photo album + CD · accompanying the Ateneum Art Museum's 2007 summer exhibition (ODE 684-2, 2007)
- [Excellence: The Artistry of Karita Mattila](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1054-2.md): Karita Mattila, soprano (ODE 1054-2, 2004)
- [Karita Mattila: Best of Evergreens](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-994-2.md): Tapiola Sinfonietta · Pekka Savijoki, conductor · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jukka-Pekka Saraste, conductor · Peter Lerche, guitar · Jyväskylä Sinfonia · Riku Niemi, conductor · Ilmo Ranta, piano · Karita Mattila, soprano (ODE 994-2, 2001)
- [The Essential Rautavaara](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-989-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 989-2, 2001)
- [Sibelius Festival](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-930-2.md): Jorma Hynninen · Pekka Kuusisto (ODE 930-2, 1999)
- [Finnish Orchestral Favourites](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-863-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 863-2, 1995)

## Links

- [Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra](http://www.oslophil.com/)
- [Virtual Finland](http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26175)