Works for Clarinet and Orchestra

The Avanti! Chamber Orchestra was founded at the initiative of Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jukka-Pekka Saraste in 1983. It was founded to satisfy a need for high-quality ensemble work by enthusiastic and highly skilled musicians, and because it was recognized that a great deal of contemporary music and other rare repertoire would remain unperformed otherwise. Avanti! has responded admirably to the challenge that it set itself: many new musical ideas in Finland have been channelled through it.

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.