# Olli Mustonen (1967-) > Olli Mustonen, composer – 12 recordings on Ondine. Born in Helsinki in 1967, Olli Mustonen took his first harpsichord lessons at the age of five and was… Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/mustonen-olli - **Role:** Composer - **Dates:** 1967- - **Photo:** © Heikki Tuuli ## Biography Born in Helsinki in 1967, Olli Mustonen took his first harpsichord lessons at the age of five and was taught to play the piano by Ralf Gothóni at the age of seven. A year later he made his first composition attempts, and from 1975 he studied composition with Einoiuhani Rautavaara. Soon, Mustonen was much sought after, both as a conductor and as a concert pianist (studies with Eero Heinonen). Since 1989, Mustonen has been playing an active role in the musical scene of his home country; first, he became Artistic Director of the Korsholm Music Festival and from 1990-1992 of the Turku Music Festival, as well. He is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Festival Orchestra, and since 2003 Artist in Residence at the chamber orchestra Tapiola Sinfonietta. As a pianist, Mustonen has given concerts with numerous major international orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orkest, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonics, and others. In addition, he maintains close working relations with renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez and Christoph Eschenbach. In 1999, he performed the world première of Rodion Shchedrin's Piano Concerto No. 5, which is dedicated to him, with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. For his recording of Preludes and Fugues by Dmitri Shostakovich and Preludes by Charles-Valentin Alkan, Mustonen received both the Edison Award and the Gramophone Award in 1992. Mustonen's predilection for contrapuntally interwoven compositions and works of the 20th century which take up ideas from the 17th and 18th centuries (e.g. the Bach arrangements by Ferruccio Busoni and the cycles of preludes and fugues by Paul Hindemith or Shostakovich), is reflected in his own works, as well. The concentration on instrumentation and rhythm as well as the use of genre names such as Gavotte, Toccata or Petite Suite are points in favour of this affinity. Mustonen's works attain their individuality through their fresh tonal language rooted in the sonority of the music of his come country. While it is the pianist who is to the fore in the concert halls throughout the world, it is the conducting and composing activities of Mustonen from Hausjärvi (Finland) which are becoming of growing interest to the public. ## Works - Triple Concerto for Three Violins and Orchestra (1998) - Petite Suite for Cello and String Orchestra (1996) - Nonet No. 2 (2000) - Nonet No. 1 (1995) - Frogs Dancing on Water Lilies for cello and String Orchestra ## Discography on Ondine (12) - [Rodion Shchedrin: Music from the Lady With the Lapdog · Concerto dolce](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1408-2.md): Lawrence Power, viola · Turku Philharmonic Orchestra · Olli Mustonen, conductor (ODE 1408-2, 2026) - [Olli Mustonen: Symphony No. 2, "Johannes Angelos" · Symphony No. 3, "Taivaanvalot" (Heavenly Lights)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1422-2.md): Ian Bostridge, tenor · Turku Philharmonic Orchestra · Olli Mustonen (ODE 1422-2, 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) - [Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1146-5.md): Tapiola Sinfonietta · Olli Mustonen, piano and conductor (ODE 1146-5, 2009) - [Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 · Violin Concerto (version for piano)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1123-5.md): Tapiola Sinfonietta · Olli Mustonen, piano and conductor (ODE 1123-5, 2008) - [Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1099-5.md): Tapiola Sinfonietta · Olli Mustonen, piano and conductor (ODE 1099-5, 2007) - [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3-5](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1025-2.md): Pekka Kuusisto, violin · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Olli Mustonen, conductor (ODE 1025-2, 2003) - [Jean Sibelius · Paul Hindemith: Symphony No. 3 · The Four Temperaments](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1022-2.md): Helsinki Festival Orchestra · Olli Mustonen, piano & conductor (ODE 1022-2, 2003) - [Olli Mustonen: Triple Concerto · Petite Suite · Nonets Nos. 1 & 2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-974-2.md): Pekka Kuusisto, violin · Jaakko Kuusisto, violin · Lisa Batiashvili, violin · Matti Rousi, cello · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Olli Mustonen, conductor (ODE 974-2, 2001) - [Rodion Shchedrin: Cello Concerto · Seagull Suite](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-955-2.md): Marko Ylönen, cello · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Olli Mustonen, conductor (ODE 955-2, 2000) - [Idylli - musiikkia rauhaisiin hetkiin: Music for a daydream](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1120-2.md): Tapiola Sinfonietta · Various Soloists & Conductors (ODE 1120-2, 2008) - [Mozart Jubileum](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1078-2.md): Pekka Kuusisto (ODE 1078-2, 2006) ## Links - [Olli Mustonen, piano](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/mustonen-olli) - [Olli Mustonen, conductor](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/mustonen-olli) - [Schott Music](http://www.schott-music.com/shop/artists/1/show,13580.html) - [Finnish Music Information Centre](http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/Mustonen+Olli)