Role

:

Composer Conductor

Country

:

Finland

Birth

:

1958

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

Kimmo Hakola is a Finnish composer who was born on October 28, 1958, in Helsinki, Finland. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a composer and his mother a pianist. Hakola started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the guitar and the drums. He was also interested in rock music and played in several bands during his teenage years. Hakola studied composition at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he was taught by Einojuhani Rautavaara and Paavo Heininen. He graduated with a Master's degree in 1986 and went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London with Robert Saxton and Oliver Knussen. Hakola's early works were influenced by the avant-garde and experimental music of the 1970s and 1980s. His music was characterized by complex rhythms, dissonant harmonies, and unconventional instrumental techniques. Some of his early works include "Kuunnelmia" (1982), "Kolme laulua" (1983), and "Kolme kappaletta" (1984). In the 1990s, Hakola's music became more tonal and accessible, while still retaining its experimental edge. He began to incorporate elements of Finnish folk music and mythology into his compositions. Some of his most notable works from this period include "Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra" (1991), "Concerto for Cello and Orchestra" (1993), and "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" (1995). Hakola's music has been performed by many leading orchestras and ensembles around the world, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. He has also collaborated with many prominent soloists, including clarinetist Kari Kriikku, cellist Anssi Karttunen, and pianist Olli Mustonen. One of Hakola's most significant works is his opera "La Fenice" (1998), which is based on the life of the Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi. The opera premiered at the Finnish National Opera and has since been performed in several other countries, including Italy, Germany, and the United States. Hakola's music has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Finnish State Prize for Music in 1993 and the Pro Finlandia Medal in 2008. He has also served as a professor of composition at the Sibelius Academy since 1999. In recent years, Hakola's music has continued to evolve and explore new directions. His more recent works have included "Concerto for Violin and Orchestra" (2010), "Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra" (2012), and "Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra" (2015). Overall, Kimmo Hakola is a highly respected and influential composer in the world of classical music. His music is known for its innovative and experimental approach, as well as its incorporation of Finnish folk music and mythology. With a career spanning several decades, Hakola has established himself as one of the leading composers of his generation.

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