Composing has always formed an integral part of the artistic life of pianist-conductor Olli Mustonen (b. 1967) and he first emerged as a symphonist in the early 2010s. This album by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra with Olli Mustonen conducting contains two of his latest symphonies, both dramatic works firmly rooted and continuing the tradition of the great classical composers. Seeking inspiration from multiple sources, the theme of Mustonen’s Second Symphony, ‘Johannes Angelos’ (2013), is the ancient city of Constantinople and its mysticism. Mustonen’s Third Symphony, ‘Taivaanvalot’ (Heavenly Lights) (2020) is based on a section in the Finnish national epic Kalevala and inspired by the cosmic and shamanistic elements in Finnish mythology. In this recording, the solo part is sung by internationally acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge.

Mustonen’s music has remained aloof of stylistic schools, being Classical in spirit but open-minded in style and technically diverse. He has been described as a modern National Romantic, and he acknowledges his debt to a number of great composers of the past. His orchestral works feature striking instrumentation and dramatic expressiveness; his idiom is idiosyncratic but accessible. Mustonen began his music studies at the age of five, and at the age of eight he was taken on privately as a composition student by Einojuhani Rautavaara.

The Turku Musical Society, which later formed the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, was founded in 1790. As the oldest orchestra in Finland – and one of the oldest in the world – the ensemble continues to develop and flourish at the baton of renowned conductors. During its history it has premiered pieces by Jean Sibelius under the leadership of the composer himself and worked with legendary conductors such as Paavo Berglund and chief conductors such as Tauno Hannikainen, Jorma Panula, Jacques Mercier, Hannu Lintu and Leif Segerstam. Since 2021 the orchestra’s 74 musicians have enjoyed the artistic leadership of Olli Mustonen. In 2019, the orchestra won International Classical Music Awards for its Sibelius recordings.

With a unique place on today’s music scene and following the tradition of great masters such as Rachmaninov, Busoni and Enescu, Olli Mustonen combines the roles of composer, pianist and conductor in an equal balance, and often brings them together in one fascinating triple role performance. During an illustrious career, Mustonen has brought his extraordinary musical insight, both at the piano and on the podium, to many of world’s most significant orchestras, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Berlin, New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orkest, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich and all the London orchestras. Recipient of the 2019 Hindemith Prize of the City of Hanau, Mustonen’s life as a composer is at the heart of his piano playing and conducting. Frequently bringing his own works to the chamber music stage, as well as conducting his symphonies, his works have been performed across the world including at Het Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam, London’s Wigmore Hall, in Hong Kong and Australia. Commissions for composition also come from far and wide, including Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven Festival Bonn, Concertgebouw Brugge, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kronberg Academy, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Turku Philharmonic.