Role

:

Conductor Performer

Birth

:

March 13, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

 

Susanna Mälkki is a Finnish conductor and cellist who has gained international recognition for her dynamic and innovative interpretations of classical music. Born on March 13, 1969, in Helsinki, Finland, Mälkki began her musical training at a young age, studying cello at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. She later continued her studies at the Edsberg Music Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Netherlands. Mälkki's career as a cellist began in the early 1990s, when she joined the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra in Finland. She also performed as a soloist with various orchestras in Europe, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. However, it was her interest in conducting that ultimately led her to shift her focus from cello performance to conducting. Mälkki's conducting career began in the late 1990s, when she was appointed as the principal cellist of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in Sweden. During her time with the orchestra, she began to take on conducting roles, and in 2002, she was appointed as the orchestra's principal guest conductor. This marked the beginning of Mälkki's rise to prominence as a conductor. In the years that followed, Mälkki began to conduct orchestras around the world, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. She also served as the principal guest conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Lisbon, Portugal, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in Paris, France. One of Mälkki's most notable performances came in 2011, when she conducted the world premiere of Kaija Saariaho's opera "Émilie" at the Opéra de Lyon in France. The opera, which tells the story of the 18th-century mathematician Émilie du Châtelet, was widely praised for its innovative use of electronic music and Mälkki's dynamic conducting. Mälkki has also been recognized for her work as a conductor, receiving numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 2011, she was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal, one of Finland's highest honors for cultural achievement. She has also been named the conductor of the year by the Finnish Broadcasting Company and the Association of Finnish Music Critics. In addition to her work as a conductor, Mälkki has also been active as a composer and arranger. She has written several works for orchestra, including "Sininen laulu" (Blue Song) and "Soie" (Silk), and has arranged music by composers such as Jean Sibelius and Igor Stravinsky. Today, Mälkki continues to be one of the most sought-after conductors in the world, known for her innovative interpretations of classical music and her ability to bring out the best in orchestras and soloists alike. Her passion for music and her dedication to her craft have made her a beloved figure in the classical music world, and her influence is sure to be felt for many years to come.

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