Finnish conductors: A power list

There has been much chatter of late on this site and elsewhere on the predominance of Finns in the global podium. From a nation that conducts intense conversations chiefly with its shoelaces, this phenomenon is worth assessment. Now in its second generation, we can start to see patterns emerging.

That a country of below 6 million could produce such a wealth of talent is worthy of an in-depth study. On present form, we think the top 15 look like this:

1 Esa-Pekka Salonen
Age 66
Leaving the San Francisco Symphony with nowhere to go but at a stage in life where he hardly cares, Salonen is besieged with offers, some of which he directs towards fellow-Finns. He’s not done yet.

2 Sakari Oramo
Age: 59
Chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orcheatra since 2012 and professor of conducting at the Sibelius Academy, he has given young Finns opportunities abroad. Has yet to get a US break.

3 Klaus Mäkelä
Age: 29
Vastly overcommitted, with chief conductorships in Oslo, Pari, Amsterdam and Chicago, Mäkelä makes an instant impression that is not often endorsed by interpretative depth.

4 Tarmo Peltokoski
Age: 24
Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse and Hong Kong Philharmonic

5 Hannu Lintu
Age: 57
Head of Finnish Opera and Ballet, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Gulbenkian orchestra in Lisbon.

6 Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Age: 68
Chief at the Helsinki Philharmonic, after spells in Glasgow, Toronto, Oslo and Cologne. Lifelong Salonen buddy.

7 Susanna Mälkki
Age: 55
Ex-Helsinki Phil and Gulbenkian, now auditioning heavily in the US

8 Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Age: 39
Chief conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London.

9 Pietari Inkinen
Age: 44
Conducted the 2023 Ring cycle at Bayreuth, chief of orchestras in Saarland and South Korea

10 Osmo Vänskä
Age: 71
The former Minnesota chief walked out of his last high-paid job at the Seoul Philharmonic. Still living in Minnesota, he keeps strong Finnish roots with the Lahti Symphony.

11 Mikko Franck
Age: 45
Finishing long term with the Radio France orchestra.

12 John Storgårds
Age: 61
Chief conductor of the BBC Philharmonic and Turku Philharmonic

13 Dalia Stasevska
Age: 40
Chief conductor of the Lahti Symphony, principal guest of the BBC Symphony.

14 Anna-Maria Helsing
Age: 53
Chief of BBC Concert Orchestra and Vaasa City Orchestra

15 Eva Ollikainen
Age: 42 (pic)
Iceland Symphony