Jukka-Pekka Saraste (b. 1956, Heinola) is a Finnish conductor who began his career as a violinist before studying with Jorma Panula at the Sibelius Academy - in the same class as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä. He has led the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic and WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, and since September 2023 serves as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Internationally celebrated for his Sibelius and Mahler interpretations, he holds conductor laureate titles from both the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Oslo Philharmonic.
The complete 'Sibelius & Saraste: The 7 Symphonies' recording with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra was released on the Ondine label on 5 June 2026 in digital and physical formats.
Saraste conducted the Helsinki Philharmonic in a concert featuring the Finnish premiere of Fazıl Say's 'Mother Earth' alongside Brahms's Fourth Symphony at the Helsinki Music Centre on 22 May 2026.
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra announced in February 2025 that Saraste will continue as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director until summer 2029, with a new three-year contract starting in autumn 2026.
Saraste led the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg in November 2025, performing Sibelius's First Symphony and works by Stravinsky and Outi Tarkiainen.
Saraste conducted the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra at the Usedomer Musikfestival 2025, in a programme of Stenhammar and Sibelius broadcast on ARTE Concert in October 2025.
