The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO) is the orchestra of the Finnish broadcasting company YLE. Founded as a ten-member ensemble in 1927, the Radio Orchestra became a full-sized symphony orchestra in the 1960s. The list of its chief conductors includes Toivo Haapanen, Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Paavo Berglund, Okko Kamu, Leif Segerstam, and Juk...
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The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO) is the orchestra of the Finnish broadcasting company YLE. Founded as a ten-member ensemble in 1927, the Radio Orchestra became a full-sized symphony orchestra in the 1960s. The list of its chief conductors includes Toivo Haapanen, Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Paavo Berglund, Okko Kamu, Leif Segerstam, and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. After nine years as a FRSO conductor, Sakari Oramo assumed the position of Chief Conductor in 2003.
The FRSO focuses on contemporary Finnish music and premieres several works commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company each year.
The orchestra has cut over 80 recordings. Among these is a historical gem, a performance of Jean Sibelius's Andante festivo conducted by the composer himself, recorded in the concert hall of the Helsinki Conservatory (now the Sibelius Academy) on New Year's Day 1939 for a radio broadcast to America. This remained the only recording of Sibelius conducting (Ondine ODE 1037-2).
The FRSO has given over 230 concerts abroad, including two tours of the Far East. The orchestra regularly visits Vienna, the Proms in London, and the Canary Islands Music festival.
The FRSO is the resident orchestra of Finnish Broadcasting Company's YLE Radio 1, which broadcasts the orchestra's concerts at home and abroad, usually live.
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