Jaakko Kuusisto

Jaakko Kuusisto
(c) Maarit Kytöharju
(c) Maarit Kytöharju
(c) Maarit Kytöharju

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  • Jaakko Kuusisto (composer, conductor, violinist)

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Jaakko Kuusisto is a regular guest both as a violinist and a conductor within the Finnish orchestras and festivals. Besides that, Kuusisto is currently holding the position of the Artistic Director of the Oulu Music Festival until 2017.

Active also as a composer and arranger, Kuusisto's list of compositions include chamber music, film music, operas and also the orchestra arrangements for the popular ABBA, Queen and the Beatles productions. The latest of his compositions is Elämälle, an opera about composer Oskar Merikanto's life, which was premiered at Ilmajoki Music Festival in 2015 and returns on stage in 2016.

Kuusisto is among the most frequently recorded Finnish instrumentalists and has recorded concertos by some of the most prominent Finnish contemporary composers. His collaboration with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra has been critically acclaimed, especially Jaakko’s own Violin Concerto with Elina Vähälä (BIS REcords) as soloist. Furthermore, a recording of his own chamber music will be published in the summer 2016.