Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra appoints Kristian Sallinen as the next Chief Conductor

Kristian Sallinen most recently appeared in Tampere in September 2025, conducting powerful interpretations of Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier Suite and Magnus Lindberg’s Concerto for Orchestra, as part of a wide-ranging programme. He will return to the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra next autumn, in September, for a concert of all-Finnish music by Jean Sibelius, Kaija Saariaho and Väinö Raitio.

– I am deeply honoured and grateful for the trust the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra has placed in me. It is a privilege to work with such outstanding musicians, and I look forward to creating a future together with the orchestra and its audiences, says Kristian Sallinen.

Described as a “super talent” and with a rapidly expanding international presence, Sallinen continues to make significant orchestral debuts as well as numerous return engagements. This spring, he conducted the season finale of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and made his opera debut at the Finnish National Opera in a double bill including Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. Recent and upcoming engagements extend to the BBC Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Brussels Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic and MDR-Sinfonieorchester (Leipzig) orchestras, his US debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and his Australian debut with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, among many others. He has collaborated with all the leading Finnish orchestras.

– We are absolutely delighted to welcome Kristian in close collaboration with our orchestra. His strong musical vision and orchestral expertise have already made a marked impression on our musicians, audiences and critics during his previous visits to Tampere. We believe he will bring inspiring energy to our shared music-making and offer engaging concert experiences for our audiences, says Eija Oravuo, General Manager of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.

Kristian Sallinen studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy with Sakari Oramo and graduated in Spring 2025. A former student of Jorma Panula, his mentors have included Paavo Järvi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Hannu Lintu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Susanna Mälkki. He began his musical studies at the age of five as a violinist, later switching to the viola, and performed at festivals across Europe as well as appearing as a soloist with orchestras including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.