Tarmo Peltokoski

Tarmo Peltokoski
Born (2000-04-21) April 21, 2000 (age 24)
Vaasa, Finland
EducationSibelius Academy
Occupations
  • conductor
  • pianist
  • composer
  • musical improviser
Organizations
Parents
Awards(see below)

Tarmo Peltokoski (born 21 April 2000) is a Finnish conductor, pianist, and composer.

Early life and education

Born in Vaasa, Peltokoski is of Finnish ancestry on his father's side and Filipino ancestry on his mother's side.[1][2][3] He began piano studies at age 8 at Kuula-opisto in his native city.[4][2] At age 14, Peltokoski's father contacted Jorma Panula about accepting his son for conducting studies. At his annual master class in Vaasa, Panula met Peltokoski, and subsequently accepted him as a private conducting student for the next four years. He had studied in the Helsinki Conservatory of Music and the Eira High School for Adults but later dropped out in pursuit of his passion.[5] In 2017, he competed in the International Maj Lind Piano Competition.[6] He played his own étude Neoclassical Impression on the first round of the competition;[5] however, he was eliminated before the semi-final.[7]

Peltokoski continued his music studies at the Sibelius Academy, where his conducting instructors included Sakari Oramo, before leaving the institution without a degree. His other conducting mentors have included Hannu Lintu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.[8]

Career

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen invited Peltokoski for a guest-conducting engagement in late 2020,[9] at the suggestion of Pekka Kuusisto and Iiro Rantala. Peltokoski first guest-conducted the orchestra in a public concert in June 2021.[10] In January 2022, the orchestra appointed Peltokoski its principal guest conductor, the first conductor to be granted that title in the orchestra's history.[11]

In January 2022, Peltokoski first guest-conducted the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra (LNSO). In May 2022, the LNSO announced the appointment of Peltokoski as its next music director and artistic director, effective with the 2022–2023 season.[12]

In May 2022, Peltokoski first guest-conducted the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (RPhO). On the basis of this appearance, the RPhO announced the appointment of Peltokoski as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2023–2024 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.[13]

In September 2022, Peltokoski first guest-conducted the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse. He returned for an additional guest-conducting appearance in October 2022. In December 2022, the Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse announced the appointment of Peltokoski as its next music director, effective with the 2025-2026 season, with an initial contract of four seasons. He is to hold the title of music director-designate for the 2024-2025 season.[14][15]

In January 2023, Peltokoski made his guest-conducting debuts in North America with the San Diego Symphony[2] and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.[16] In October 2023, Peltokoski signed a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon (DG).[17][18][19] His debut album for DG was released in May 2024, with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, in recordings of Mozart symphonies.[20]

Peltokoski first guest-conducted the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in June 2023. In July 2024, the orchestra announced the appointment of Peltokoski as its next music director, effective with the 2026-2027 season, with an initial contract of four years. He is to hold the title of music director-designate for the 2025-2026 season.[21]

In March 2024, Classic FM selected Peltokoski as one of their 30 'Rising Stars' of the year.[22]

Selected compositions

  • Mysteeri (Mystery) (for solo piano)[23]
  • Neoklassinen Impressio (Neoclassical Impression) (Etude for solo piano)[24][25]
  • Loitsu (Spell) (improvisation for solo piano)[26]
  • Nephesh (for string quartet)[27][better source needed]
  • Improvisation on Mozart's "Haffner" Symphony[28]
  • Improvisation on Mozart's Symphony No. 40[28]
  • Improvisation on Mozart's "Linz" Symphony[28]

Discography

  • Mozart: Mozart Symphonies (No. 35, "Haffner"; No. 36, "Linz"; No. 40 in G minor) [with The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen] (2024, Deutsche Grammophon)[20]

Awards

References

  1. ^ Tarpila, Laila; Saulo, Sandra (15 August 2017). "Maj Lind –kilpailun 2017 suomalaispianistit: Tarmo Peltokoski". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Beth Wood (29 January 2023). "Young Finnish conductor, 22, to make his U.S. debut with the San Diego Symphony this week". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ^ Erika Na (25 June 2023). "Meet the Filipino-Finnish conductor who will lead HK Phil: the opera that inspired him, his mentor, and why one work is a must-perform in Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Intohimo pianonsoittoon johti kilpailun voittoon" [Passion for playing the piano led to winning the competition]. Ilkka-Pohjalainen (in Finnish). 5 April 2016.
  5. ^ a b Mattila, Mattias (17 August 2017). "Tarmo Peltokoski, 17, yrittää naurattaa raatia säveltämällään kappaleella –Maj Lind -pianokilpailu alkaa" [Tarmo Peltokoski, 17, tries to make the jury laugh with a song he composed – Maj Lind Piano Competition begins] (in Finnish). Yle.
  6. ^ "Neljännen kansainvälisen Maj Lind -pianokilpailun aloittaa Tarmo Peltokoski" [The fourth International Maj Lind Piano Competition will be opened by Tarmo Peltokoski]. Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). 17 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Pianisti Tarmo Peltokoski putosi jatkosta Maj Lind -pianokilpailussa" [Pianist Tarmo Peltokoski was eliminated from the Maj Lind Piano Competition]. Ilkka-Pohjalainen (in Finnish). 23 August 2017.
  8. ^ Michael Klier (6 September 2023). "Conducting as second nature: Tarmo Peltokoski on coming to Rotterdam". Bachtrack. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  9. ^ Nicole Lacroix (8 November 2023). "Gen Z Takes Over the Concert Hall Stage: Tarmo Peltokoski Makes His NSO Debut". WETA. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. ^ Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen (11 January 2023). ""This is what I've been preparing for all my life" – conductor Tarmo Peltokoski". Finnish Music Quarterly. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski named "Principal Guest Conductor" of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen" (Press release). Dorn Music. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski named as new Music and Artistic Director of the Latvian National" (Press release). Latvijas Nacionālais simfoniskais orķestris. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski vaste gastdirigent" (Press release). Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski nommé directeur musical" (Press release). Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski announced as Music Director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse" (Press release). Dorn Music. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Review | TSO: Tarmo Peltokoski and Jonathan Crow Memorable - my/maSCENA". myscena.org. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski Signs Exclusive Contract with Deutsche Grammophon" (Press release). Dorn Music. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski Signs Exclusive Contract with Deutsche Grammophon - Tarmo Peltokoski". Deutsche Grammophon. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Tarmo Peltokoski signs exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon". Gramophone. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  20. ^ a b Jukka Isopuro (22 June 2024). "Tarmo Peltokoski pitää hauskaa vääntelemällä Mozartia loistokkaasti". Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  21. ^ Ronald Blum (4 July 2024). "Tarmo Peltokoski, 24-year-old Finnish conductor, to become Hong Kong Philharmonic music director". AP News. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  22. ^ Kyle McDonald (14 March 2024). "Classic FM's Rising Stars 2024: 30 young musicians reshaping classical music". Classic FM. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  23. ^ "Vuotalo - Tapahtumat". www.vuotalo.fi. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  24. ^ Tarmo Peltokoski Neoclassical Impression. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  25. ^ "IV kansainvälinen Maj Lind -pianokilpailu: Tarmo Peltokoski (Fin). Alkuerä - Preliminary round | Maj Lind 2017". areena.yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  26. ^ Ikonen, Petri (17 June 2015). "Loitsu (Spell)". Vimeo. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  27. ^ "Seele-Kvartetti La... - Mäntän Musiikkijuhlat - Mänttä Music Festival _ Facebook". Facebook. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Manuel Brug (27 June 2024). "Tarmo Peltokoski – ein Name, den man sich merken sollte". Welt. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
Cultural offices
Preceded by Music Director, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
2022–present 		Succeeded by
incumbent