JUKKA-PEKKA SARASTE

Contract Extension at the
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra

Concerts with Munich Philharmonic &
LEAD! Labs in Munich

SIBELIUS & SARASTE
Project Completion for the 160th Anniversary of Sibelius

Jukka-Pekka Saraste Extends Tenure as Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra 

Jukka-Pekka Saraste, who assumed the role of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) in 2023, will continue in this position until the summer of 2029. His three-year contract extension begins in autumn 2026, during which he will lead the orchestra for a minimum of eight concert weeks each season. 

Reflecting on the collaboration, Jukka-Pekka Saraste remarks:

Aleksi Malmberg, General Manager of HPO, adds: "The collaboration between Jukka-Pekka Saraste and the orchestra has been highly productive, both in Helsinki and internationally. We are delighted to continue this artistic journey together."

SIBELIUS & SARASTE
Project Completion for the 160th Anniversary of Sibelius

Since last season, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and the HPO have been realising the SIBELIUS & SARASTE project, in which all of Jean Sibelius' symphonies are recorded as high-quality multi-camera productions and broadcast live and worldwide on Deutsche Grammophon's classical music streaming platform STAGE+ as well as arte concert.

Symphony No. 4 will follow in concerts at Helsinki's Musiikitalo (2/3 April) and as livestream premiere on STAGE+ (3 April), bringing the extensive project to a close and celebrating this year's 160th anniversary of the birth of Jean Sibelius.

For Jukka-Pekka Saraste the complete series aims to convey the atmosphere of a live concert experience while bringing the history of Sibelius and the HPO to a wide international music audience.

The HPO is the first Finnish symphony orchestra to be broadcasted on STAGE+,  joining the ranks of orchestras like The Cleveland Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw and Vienna Philharmonic.

Outlook March 2025 in Munich:
Concerts with Munich Philharmonic & LEAD! Labs

In March, Jukka-Pekka Saraste will return to Munich for two dynamic projects:

• Munich Philharmonic Concerts (7/8 March): Saraste will conduct a compelling program featuring two Finnish works - Sibelius' Symphony No. 2 and Sisyphus' Dream by Jouni Kaipainen - and Shostakovich's Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings No. 1.

• Launch of LEAD! Labs (6-9 March): As Co-Founder of the LEAD! Foundation, Saraste will introduce the first-ever LEAD! Labs - an innovative series of workshops and masterclasses. Led by members of the LEAD! Foundation team and distinguished guests, these exclusive in-person sessions will equip young musicians with essential entrepreneurial, technical, and collaborative skills. Designed to foster connections and empower emerging artists, the program provides vital tools to shape careers and establish a strong presence in the industry.