Adagio ... concerto per orchestra in forma di variazioni...

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.

Esa-Pekka Salonen studied at the Sibelius Academy and made his conducting début with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1979. From 1985-1995 he was Music Director of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and also in 1985 took up the post of Principal Guest Conductor of The Philharmonia which he held until 1994. Salonen returned to The Philharmonia as the orchestra's chief conductor from 2008 to 2021. He was Director of the Helsinki Festival in 1995 and 1996. From 1992 to 2009, he was the Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In December 2018, the San Francisco Symphony announced the appointment of Salonen as its next music director, effective in 2020.