Mikko Franck

Mikko Franck
Franck in 2015
Born (1979-04-01) 1 April 1979 (age 45)
Helsinki
Occupations
  • Conductor
  • Violinist
Spouse
Martina Picket
​
​
(m. 2006; div. 2010)​

Mikko Franck (born 1 April 1979) is a Finnish conductor and violinist.

Biography

Franck was born in Helsinki. He began learning the violin at the age of 5 and started violin studies at the Sibelius Academy in 1992. The Academy let Franck conduct an orchestra in 1995, whereupon Jorma Panula enlisted him as a private student. Franck entered Panula's conducting class at the Academy in 1996, leaving in 1998 as his international career began.[1] He said Panula "gave me everything that can be taught about this profession."

Before age 23, Franck had made his conducting début with all leading Scandinavian orchestras, with the London Philharmonia, London Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Berlin State Opera Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic.

His first recording, of Jean Sibelius, received a Grammy nomination for "Best Orchestral Performance". He champions Einojuhani Rautavaara's works.

Franck was the Belgian National Orchestra's artistic director from 2002 to 2007. He became the Finnish National Opera's general music director in August 2006. Six months later, he claimed a loss of confidence in the company's then-general director Erkki Korhonen and administrative director Pekka Kauranen, and announced his resignation.[2] In response, the company nominated Franck to the dual post of Artistic Director and General Music Director.[3][4] His term in both posts finished in 2013.[5]

Franck became music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in September 2015.[6] He is scheduled to stand down as the orchestra's music director at the close of the 2024-2025 season.[7]

Unusually for conductors, Franck generally conducts while seated in a chair due to a painful spine condition.[8]

Franck and opera director Martina Pickert married in 2006. The couple divorced in 2010.

Selected discography

  • Sibelius – Lemminkäinen Suite / En saga; Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ondine 953; 2000)
  • Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 6 / Rautavaara – Apotheosis; Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ondine 1002; 2003)
  • Rautavaara – The House of the Sun: Oulu Symphony Orchestra; Jukka Romu, Raija Regnell, Ulla Raiskio, Tuomas Katajala, Petri Backstrom, Tommi Hakala, Markus Nieminen, Helena Juntunen, Mia Huhta, Anne-Kristiina Kaappola, singers (Ondine 1032; 2004)
  • Rautavaara – Rasputin: Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Finnish National Opera Chorus; Lilli Paasikivi, Jorma Hynninen, Jyrki Anttila, Riikka Rantanen, Ritva-Liisa Korhonen, Jyrki Korhonen, Gabriel Suovanen, Matti Salminen, Lassi Virtanen, singers (Ondine 1002; 2005)
  • Rautavaara – Symphony No. 1, Adagio Celeste, Book of Visions; Belgian National Orchestra (Ondine 1064; 2006)

References

  1. ^ Hako, P., Keskusteluja ja kirjoituksia (Discussions and writings; "Rautavaara & Franck"). WSOY 2006. ISBN 978-951-0-31058-8
  2. ^ Vivien Schweitzer (15 February 2007). "With Harsh Words, Conductor Mikko Franck Resigns From Finnish National Opera". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  3. ^ "Mikko Franck nominated for post of Artistic Director and General Music Director" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Mikko Franck appointed Artistic Director of the Finnish National Opera" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  5. ^ "Eight premieres at the Finnish National Opera in the 2013–2014 season" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  6. ^ Guillaume Decalf (17 September 2020). "Mikko Franck poursuit l'aventure avec le Philharmonique de Radio France". France Musique. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  7. ^ Flore Caron (27 February 2024). "Jaap van Zweden nommé directeur musical du Philhar de Radio France". France Musique. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. ^ Kozinn, Allan (5 November 2005). "Now You See the Conductor (in His Debut); Now You Don't See the Piano". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
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Cultural offices
Preceded by Music Director, Finnish National Opera
2006–2013 		Succeeded by
Michael Güttler (principal conductor)
Preceded by Music Director, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
2015–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent