# Aulis Sallinen (1935-)

> Aulis Sallinen, composer – 16 recordings on Ondine. Although Aulis Sallinen has created successful works in numerous forms, Sallinen remains for many the…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/sallinen-aulis

- **Role:** Composer
- **Dates:** 1935-
- **Photo:** © Maarit Kytöharju/FIMIC

## Biography

Although Aulis Sallinen has created successful works in numerous forms, Sallinen remains for many the ultimate Finnish opera composer. Two of his early stage works, The Horseman and The Red Line, were instrumental in creating a truly Finnish operatic repertory, and catapulted the composer to international acclaim in the 1970s.

In 1958, while studying composition under Aarre Merikanto, Aulis Sallinen graduated with a school teacher's certificate, and in 1960, on completing studies under Joonas Kokkonen, he took the post of orchestral manager with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra - one which he held for nine years. His approach to music is down-to-earth, and this has made itself felt in his compositional work too: he hones down his musical material to suit the nature of the instrument and has written pieces with a practical, utilitarian function. The most distinct feature of his music is his use of repetition and this may indeed be a legacy of the neo-classicism of which the later style of his teacher Aarre Merikanto is one example.

Sallinen's most important creative period began in the early 1970's. Granted a lifelong artist's bursary from the government, he left his job with the orchestra and, in 1976, gave up his teaching at the Sibelius Academy. Many of the pertinent features of his style had already made themselves evident from the mid-sixties onwards. Today, Sallinen's oeuvre comprises over sixty works. His emphasis has been on orchestral and chamber music and above all with opera, the medium with which he forged his reputation.

## Works

- The King Goes Forth to France - A chronicle for the music theatr
- Suita grammaticale, Op. 28
- Piirretään! Hyvähän se on sanoa
- Lemminki in Tuonela (Lemminki Tuonelassa)
- Kullervo - Opera in Two Acts
- Introduction and Tango
- Elämän ja kuoleman lauluja (Songs of Life and Death)
- String Quartet No. 1, Op. 14
- String Quartet No. 2 "Canzona"
- String Quartet No. 4 "Quiet Songs"
- String Quartet No. 5 "Pieces of Mosaic"
- Vintern var hård (Winter was hard)
- The Red Line (Punainen viiva) - Opera in Two Acts, Op. 46
- King Lear
- Chamber Music I, Op. 38 for string orchestra (197
- Chamber Music II, Op. 41
- Chamber Music III, Op. 58
- Chamber Music V, Op. 80a
- Chamber Music VII, Op. 93 Cruselliana
- Chamber Music IV
- Chamber Music VI
- Chamber Music VIII
- The Iron Age Suite (Rauta-aika -sarja)

## Discography on Ondine (16)

- [Aulis Sallinen: Highlights · 90th Anniversary Album](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1490-2.md): Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Ville Matvejeff · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu · Tapiola Sinfonietta, Osmo Vänskä · Finnish National Opera Orchestra, Ulf Söderblom (ODE 1490-2, 2025)
- [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)
- [Aulis Sallinen: Chamber Music I - VIII](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1256-2d.md): Jyväskylä Sinfonia · Arto Noras, cello · Alexis Roman, alto flute · Meta4 · Jyväskylä Sinfonia Wind Quintet · Ralf Gothoni, piano & kapellimestari · Ville Matvejeff, piano & kapellimestari (ODE 1256-2D, 2015)
- [Aulis Sallinen: King Lear · Opera in Two Acts · DVD video](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4010.md): Matti Salminen · Lilli Paasikivi, Taina Piira, Satu Vihavainen, Jorma Hynninen, Sauli Tiilikainen, Jorma Silvasti, Aki alamikkotervo, Hannu Forsberg (ODV 4010, 2015)
- [Aulis Sallinen: Kullervo - Opera in Two Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1258-2t.md): Jorma Hynninen, kullervo · Eeva-Liisa Saarinen, mother · Matti Salminen, kalervo · Jorma Silvasti, kimmo · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · (Previously released as ODE 780-3T) (ODE 1258-2T, 2014)
- [Aulis Sallinen: The Red Line - Opera in Two Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/odv-4008.md): Jorma Hynninen, topi · Päivi Nisula, riika · Finnish National Opera Chorus · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Mikko Franck, conductor (ODV 4008, 2010)
- [Aulis Sallinen: The King Goes Forth to France - Opera in Three Acts](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1066-2d.md): Tommi Hakala, baritone · Jyrki Korhonen, bass · Riikka Rantanen, mezzo-soprano · Lilli Paasikivi, mezzo-soprano · Mari Palo, soprano · Laura Nykänen, contralto · Jyrki Anttila, tenor · Herman Wallén, baritone · Santeri Kinnunen, spoken role · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor (ODE 1066-2D, 2006)
- [A Century of Finnish Chamber Music: Live from the Kuhmo Festival](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-984-2s.md): Various Artists (ODE 984-2S, 2002)
- [Aulis Sallinen: Songs of Life and Death · The Iron Age Suite](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-844-2.md): Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Opera Festival Chorus · Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor (ODE 844-2, 1995)
- [Aulis Sallinen: String Quartets Nos. 1-5](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-831-2.md): Jean Sibelius Quartet (ODE 831-2, 1995)
- [Dreams](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-786-2.md): Tapiola Choir · Erkki Pohjola, conductor · Tapiola Sinfonietta · Osmo Vänskä, conductor (ODE 786-2, 1992)
- [Seasons of Finnish Lifestyle](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1152-2.md): Photo album + CD (ODE 1152-2, 2009)
- [Aurora Borealis: The Magic of Northern Lights](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1137-2.md): Photo album + CD (ODE 1137-2, 2008)
- [Tapiola Choir: Joy! - Highlights from the world-famous children's choir](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1003-2.md): Tapiola Choir · Kari Ala-Pöllänen, conductor · Erkki Pohjola, conductor (ODE 1003-2, 2002)
- [Jorma Hynninen: Profile of a Great Career](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-944-2.md): Classic Stars Chamber Orchestra · Savonlinna Opera Festival Orchestra · Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor · Pekka Haapasalo, conductor · Jorma Hynninen, baritone · Kari Tikka, conductor · Ulf Söderblom, conductor · Pentti Koskimies, piano · Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra · Okko Kamu, conductor · Finnish National Opera Orchestra · Estonian Symphony Orchestra · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Ralf Gothóni, piano · Aira Johansson, piano · Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra · Jorma Panula, conductor · Joensuu City Orchestra · Eri Klas, conductor · Markus Lehtinen, conductor (ODE 944-2, 1999)
- [Aurora Borealis: Magic of the Mysterious North](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-937-2.md): Various Artists (ODE 937-2, 1999)

## Links

- [Chester Novello](http://www.chesternovello.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2431&State_2905=2&composerId_2905=1356)
- [Finnish Music Information Centre](http://www.fimic.fi//fimic/sallinen+aulis)