Credits:

Kyung Wha Chung

Description:

On September 8, 2021, a new page in the history of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra will be opened with a concert celebrating the appointment of Nicholas Colon, born in London in 1983, as Chief Conductor. For the first time in the history of the orchestra, which was founded in 1927, the orchestra welcomed a principal conductor from outside of Finland. Nicholas Colon studied viola, piano, and organ, and joined the National Youth Orchestra of England as a viola player. Together with Robin Titiati (born in the same year as Colon), who was also a member of the Youth Orchestra, he founded the Aurora Orchestra in 2004, which is based on the principle of memorizing music and playing standing up, and as its principal conductor, he is responsible for dynamic music making, collaboration with performers from different genres, and expanding the orchestra to other venues outside the concert hall. In the 2010s, he was invited by prestigious orchestras and opera houses in Germany, France, Spain, and Scandinavia, and became Principal Conductor of The Hague Residential Orchestra (2016-21). He has also been Principal Conductor of the Hague Residenti Orchestra (2016-21) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Gürzenig Orchestra Cologne (2017-), and his reputation has grown (he will appear with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 2019).After conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for the first time in March 2017, he was unusually chosen to be named the next Chief Conductor on May 2, 2019, prior to his second guest appearance. One can imagine the strong impact their first collaboration had and the high expectations for their future. The first work on this remarkable CD is Sibelius, which is in the orchestra's blood. It is also the repertoire in which Colin Davis, Colon's conductor, excelled. Kolon and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra performed Symphony No. 7 and "Christian II" at the Finnish Independence Day Gala Concert on December 6, 2021, and this CD was recorded at the same time. This CD is a recording from the same period as the earlier recording of "Pelléas et Mélisande", Enno Maemetz, a veteran of many orchestral recordings for the ONDINE label and highly regarded for his excellent recordings, was in charge of recording, editing, and mastering, making this an audio treat as well. The duo has ongoing recording plans for the ONDINE label, and we look forward to more opportunities to hear authentic symphonic repertoire conducted by Colon.Chief Conductors of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (tenure as Chief Conductor in parentheses)Toivo Haapanen(1929-50)Nils-Erik Vogstedt(1950-1961)Paavo Berglund(1962-71)Okko Kam(1971-77)Leif Segerstam (1977-87)Jukka-Pekka Saraste(1987-2001)Sakari Oramo(2003-12)Hannu Lintu(2013-21)Nicolas Colon(2021-) Naxos Japan