Maestro mourns his mother
RIPTweet from Sakari Oramo, chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra:
My dearly beloved Mother and the unique pianist,artist and Force of Nature Liisa Pohjola, passed away on New Year’s Eve. She gave her children,their nearest and everyone that knew her a wondrous feeling of caring, presence and support. She is sorely missed by our whole family.
— Sakari Oramo (@oramsa) January 1, 2022
Liisa Pohjola, who died on New Year’s Eve aged 85, was professor of piano at the Sibelius Academy since 1976 and a ntoable champion of contemprary composers.
Liisa Pohjola was a lovely intense woman and a wonderful pianist and pedagogue. She did so much to champion both contemporary Finnish and other modern composers and had a quick and immediate grasp of their music.
She will be deeply missed by all who had the good fortune of knowing her and having studied with her.
My condolences to Sakari.
Any relation to the Pohjola from the Sibelius tone poem, “Pohjola’s Daughter”? Amazing piece.
Pohjola is from the national epic; Finnish equivalent for the ‘Ultima Thule’.
There is a great number of award-winning musicians in both classical music and jazz with the name Pohjola.