Graal théâtre (chamber version)

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.

Hannu Lintu is one of Finland's most sought-after conductors and is rapidly creating a major international career. He has been Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra 2009-2013, and also Principal Guest Conductor of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. Before assuming the new role of Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra from 2013 to 2021, he was the orchestra's Chief Guest Conductor in 2012. Hannu Lintu was previously Chief Conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. He is a regular guest conductor with the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra in Finland and was Artistic Director of the orchestra's Summer Sounds festival in 2005. In November 2022, the Gulbenkian Orchestra announced the appointment of Lintu as its next chief conductor.