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Esa-Pekka Salonen

KBE
Esa-Pekka-Salonen-1997c (cropped).jpg
Salonen in 1997 rehearsing the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Born (1958-06-30) 30 June 1958 (age 67)
Helsinki, Finland
Occupation
  • Conductor
  • composer
Years active 1979–present
Organization
Spouse(s)
Jane Price
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 2017)​
Kaarina Gould
​
(m. 2021)​
Children 3
Signature
E-P-Salonen-Sign.jpg

Esa-Pekka Salonen (born June 30, 1958) is a famous Finnish conductor and composer. He leads orchestras and writes music. He is currently the music director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is also a special conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 2024, he shared that he would leave the San Francisco Symphony when his contract ends in 2025.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Esa-Pekka Salonen was born in Helsinki, Finland. He finished high school in 1977. Then, he studied horn and composition at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He also learned conducting from Jorma Panula.

Some of his classmates were conductors Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Osmo Vänskä. He also studied with composer Magnus Lindberg. They started a group called Korvat auki, which means "Ears open." This group explored new music.

Salonen first conducted in 1979 with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. At that time, he mostly thought of himself as a composer. He even said he started conducting to make sure his own music would be performed.

A Big Break in London

In 1983, Salonen got a huge opportunity. He had to step in for another conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas, at the last minute. He conducted Mahler's Symphony No. 3 with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London. He had never studied the music before. This performance really launched his career as a conductor. He then became the main guest conductor for the Philharmonia from 1985 to 1994.

From 1984 to 1995, Salonen was the main conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 2003, he helped start the Baltic Sea Festival. This festival features new classical music. It aims to bring countries around the Baltic Sea together. It also raises awareness about protecting the Baltic Sea environment. The festival still happens every year.

Leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Salonen first conducted in the United States in 1984. This was with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He felt a strong connection with the orchestra right away. He knew it would be a big part of his life.

In 1989, he was offered a special guest conductor role. However, the orchestra's music director, André Previn, was not asked about this decision. This caused problems, and Previn resigned. Four months later, Salonen was named the orchestra's tenth music director. He officially started in 1992 and stayed until 2009.

New Beginnings and Tours

Salonen's time with the orchestra began with a special event in 1992. They performed at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. This was the first time an American orchestra had this chance. Salonen then took the orchestra on many tours. They visited the United States, Europe, and Asia.

They also had special performances at other festivals. These included the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland and The Proms in London. During a festival in Paris in 1996, important people from the orchestra's board heard them play. The improved sound inspired them to raise money for the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

A Progressive Orchestra

Under Salonen's leadership, the Los Angeles Philharmonic became very modern and respected. A music critic named Alex Ross said that Salonen's time in Los Angeles was a turning point for classical music in America. He said it showed how much life orchestras still have.

In 2007, Salonen announced he would finish his role in 2009. Gustavo Dudamel took his place.

Before Salonen's last concert in 2009, the orchestra gave him a new title. He became their first Conductor Laureate. They also created a special fund in his honor. This fund helps pay for new music to be written and performed. This showed how much he supported new classical music.

During his time as music director, the orchestra performed 120 new or American debut pieces. They also asked composers to write over 54 new works. He was the longest-serving music director in the orchestra's history. He led 973 concerts and 23 tours.

Work with Philharmonia and Other Orchestras

In 2006, the Philharmonia Orchestra in London announced Salonen would become their Principal Conductor. He started this role in the 2008–2009 season. He made several recordings with the Philharmonia. He finished his time as their principal conductor after the 2020–2021 season.

Salonen made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 2009. He conducted an opera called From the House of the Dead.

In 2012, his violin concerto, written for Leila Josefowicz, won a major award. It was the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. In 2014, he received the Nemmers Prize in Music Composition. This award included money and a chance to work with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also became the first creative chair at the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich. This role included giving talks and commissioning new music.

In 2015, Salonen became the composer-in-residence for the New York Philharmonic. He also advises a project that studies how music affects brain health. In 2016, he became the first artist in association with the Finnish National Opera and Ballet.

Salonen first conducted the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) as a guest in 2004. He returned in 2012 and 2015. In 2018, the SFS announced he would be their next music director. He started this role in the 2020–2021 season.

In March 2024, Salonen announced he would leave the San Francisco Symphony in 2025. He said he did not agree with the board's future plans for the orchestra. Many people who supported the SFS were sad about this news.

Digital Music Projects

Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra have worked on cool digital projects. They created an installation called RE-RITE. It lets people conduct and play with the Philharmonia Orchestra. You can step inside the orchestra using audio and video. They also made Universe of Sound, based on Gustav Holst's The Planets. This won an award in 2012.

Salonen and the Philharmonia also released a popular iPad app called "The Orchestra". It's an interactive tour through music history. In 2016, the Philharmonia Orchestra launched a virtual reality production. This was the first from a UK symphony orchestra.

Working with Apple

Esa-Pekka and Philharmonia in Apple Store in Berlin
Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra perform Lutosławski, Sibelius and Salonen at the Apple Store, Berlin

In 2014, Salonen was part of an international ad campaign for Apple. It promoted the iPad Air. The campaign included the ad and discussions with Salonen about classical music. Apple also offered a free recording of his violin concerto. They also shared his favorite classical music and iPad apps.

The ad was special because it showed a modern classical composer in mainstream advertising. It also showed classical music in a positive way. Salonen even led a concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra in an Apple store in Berlin. It was the first time a full orchestra performed in an Apple store.

In 2015, Salonen spoke to educators about using technology in music education.

Personal Life

Salonen married Kaarina Gould in 2021. He was previously married to Jane Price. She was a musician with the Philharmonia Orchestra. They had three children: Ella Aneira, Anja Sofia, and Oliver. They separated in 2017 and divorced in 2018.

Salonen once thought about buying Igor Stravinsky's old house in Beverly Hills. But he felt too overwhelmed by the idea of composing in the same place where Stravinsky wrote so many famous works.

Honors and Awards

In April 2010, Salonen became a Foreign Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In May 2010, he received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Southern California.

Salonen carried the Olympic flame on July 26, 2012. This was part of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay. In December 2020, he was made an Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). This was for his contributions to music and relations between the UK and Finland. He conducted the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra at the 2023 Nobel Prize Concert. In 2024, he won the Polar Music Prize with Nile Rodgers.

In 2025, he received a Grammy Award for the San Francisco Symphony's recording of the opera Adriana Mater.

Career Highlights

  • 1981 – Finished his first large work, ...auf den ersten Blick und ohne zu wissen...
  • 1983 – Co-founded Avanti! Chamber Orchestra in Finland.
  • 1985 – Became chief conductor of Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
  • 1992 – Won the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers.
  • 1992 – Became Music Director of Los Angeles Philharmonic.
  • 1993 – Was the first conductor to receive the Siena Prize.
  • 1995 – Appointed Artistic Director of Helsinki Festival.
  • 1997 – Conducted Ligeti's opera, Le Grand Macabre, at the Salzburg Festival.
  • 1997 – Gave the world premiere of L.A. Variations in Los Angeles.
  • 1999 – Music Director of the Ojai Music Festival.
  • 2000 – Took a break to focus on composing.
  • 2001 – Was Music Director of the Ojai Music Festival again.
  • 2003 – Led the opening concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
  • 2005 – Performed his own compositions in festivals in Los Angeles and Cologne.
  • 2006 – Named "Musician of the Year" by Musical America.
  • 2007 – "The Tristan Project," performed in Los Angeles and New York.
  • 2007 – World premiere of his Piano Concerto.
  • 2008 – Began leading the Philharmonia Orchestra.
  • 2009 – World premiere of his violin concerto.
  • 2011 – Won the 2012 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for his Violin Concerto.
  • 2014 – Won the Nemmers Prize in Music Composition.
  • 2014 – Named Creative Chair at the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich.
  • 2015 – Named Composer-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic.
  • 2017 – World premiere of his cello concerto.
  • 2018 – The Colburn School asked Salonen to lead their conducting program.
  • 2020 – Began leading the San Francisco Symphony.
  • 2022 – Berlin Philharmonic appointed Salonen as Composer-in-Residence.
  • 2024 – Won the Polar Music Prize.

Composing Music

Salonen's compositions include his Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra (1980). He also wrote Floof (1982) and the orchestral piece L.A. Variations (1996).

Salonen has said that living in California helped him feel more "free" in his compositions. A music critic, Mark Swed, explained that Salonen had stopped writing music for a while. He felt that European modern music had too many rules, like avoiding melody.

But in Los Angeles, he realized he could have his own ideas. He said his focus changed from rules to pleasure. This led to his breakthrough piece, "LA Variations," in 1997. This piece was very popular and has been performed many times.

To spend more time composing, Salonen took a year off from conducting in 2000. During this time, he wrote several pieces. These included Concert Étude for horn and Dichotomie for piano. He also wrote Mania for cello and Gambit, an orchestral piece.

In 2001, Salonen composed Foreign Bodies, his largest work. Another orchestral piece, Insomnia, followed in 2002. Then came Wing on Wing in 2004. Wing on Wing includes parts for two singers and sounds of architect Frank Gehry's voice.

Salonen believes music creation is very physical. He said, "Musical expression is bodily expression." A common idea in his music is how machines and nature connect.

Salonen has plans to compose an opera. It would be based on the novel The Woman and the Ape.

Compositions by Esa-Pekka Salonen

Here are some of the musical pieces Salonen has composed:

Orchestral Works

  • Giro (1982, revised 1997)
  • L.A. Variations (1996)
  • Foreign Bodies (2001)
  • Insomnia (2002)
  • Stockholm Diary (2004)
  • Helix (2005)
  • Nyx (2010)
  • Gemini (2018/2019)

Concertos (for soloist and orchestra)

  • Saxophone Concerto (1980)
  • Mimo II for oboe and orchestra (1992)
  • Mania for cello and orchestra (2002)
  • Piano Concerto (2007)
  • Violin Concerto (2009)
  • Cello Concerto (2017)
  • Sinfonia concertante for organ and orchestra (2022)

Choral and Vocal Works

  • Floof (Songs of a Homeostatic Homer) (1988) for soprano and chamber group
  • Five Images after Sappho (1999) for soprano and chamber group
  • Wing on Wing for two sopranos and orchestra (2004)
  • Dona Nobis Pacem (2011) for chorus
  • Karawane (2014)

Chamber and Instrumental Works

  • Nachtlieder for clarinet and piano (1978)
  • Meeting for clarinet and harpsichord (1982)
  • Yta I for alto flute (1982)
  • Yta II for piano/harpsichord (1985)
  • Yta III for cello (1986)
  • Mania for cello and chamber group (2000)
  • Dichotomie for piano (2000)
  • Lachen verlernt for violin (2002)
  • Three Preludes, for piano (2005)

Selected World Premiere Performances Conducted by Salonen

Salonen has also helped many other composers by conducting their new music. Here are some of the important world premieres he has led:

John Adams
  • Naïve and Sentimental Music (1999)
  • The Dharma at Big Sur (2003)
Louis Andriessen
  • Haags Hakkûh (The Hague Hacking) – Double Piano Concerto (2009)
Anders Hillborg
  • Eleven Gates (2006)
  • Sirens (2011)
Peter Lieberson
  • Neruda Songs (2005)
Magnus Lindberg
  • Kraft (1985)
  • Fresco (1998)
  • Cello Concerto No. 1 (1999)
  • Sculpture (2005)
Arvo Pärt
  • Symphony No. 4, Los Angeles (2009)
Kaija Saariaho
  • Du Cristal (1990)
  • Adriana Mater (2006)
Dmitri Shostakovich
  • Prologue to Orango (2011)
Steven Stucky
  • Second Concerto for Orchestra (2004)
  • Radical Light (2007)

Recordings

Salonen is known for performing and recording modern music. His 1985 recording of Witold Lutosławski's Symphony No. 3 won a Gramophone Award and a Grammy Award. He also recorded Lutosławski's Symphony No. 4. He worked with the Philharmonia Orchestra to record all of György Ligeti's works, but this project was not finished.

Some Well-Known Recordings

  • Esa-Pekka Salonen: Concerto for Alto Saxophone; Floof; Meeting; Nachtleider; Mimo II; Yta I; Yta II; Yta IIb; Yta III – Finlandia
  • Bartók: Piano Concertos 1, 2, and 3 (Yefim Bronfman, piano) (Grammy Award); Sony Classical
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen: Five Images After Sappho; Gambit; Giro; LA Variations; Mania – Sony
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen: Foreign Bodies; Insomnia; Wing on Wing – Deutsche Grammophon
  • John Corigliano: Red Violin – Joshua Bell, solo violin; Philarmonia Orchestra; Sony Classical
  • Arnold Schoenberg: Violin Concerto, Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto – Hilary Hahn, solo violin; Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra – Deutsche Grammophon (Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra))
  • Henri Dutilleux: Correspondances; Tout un monde lointain; The shadows of time – Deutsche Grammophon
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen: Out of Nowhere; Nyx and Violin Concerto; Leila Josefowicz; Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra; Deutsche Grammophon

Recordings with Los Angeles Philharmonic

Recordings with Other Orchestras

See also

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