The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO/FRSO) is Yle's symphony orchestra, founded in Helsinki in 1927 and now comprising 99 permanent musicians. It performs primarily at the Helsinki Music Centre and has built an international reputation through over a hundred recordings, three Gramophone Awards and Grammy nominations in 2020 and 2021. British conductor Nicholas Collon has led the orchestra as chief conductor since autumn 2021, the first non-Finnish conductor to hold the post.
General Manager Maris Gothoni announced his departure from the FRSO to pursue new challenges outside Yle.
Chief conductor Nicholas Collon renewed his contract with the FRSO for a second time, extending his tenure to June 2030 with an option for two further years.
A six-part Yle documentary series '99 valittua - Huippuorkesterin kulisseissa' about the RSO's musicians premiered on Yle Areena on 24 November 2025.
The FRSO performed as the festival orchestra at Osterfestspiele Salzburg under Esa-Pekka Salonen, following in the footsteps of the Berlin Philharmonic and Dresden Staatskapelle.
The FRSO received its second nomination for Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year award, having first been nominated in 2023.
concertin progress
The Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hannu Lintu performs grand works by Szymanowski and Liszt, featuring tenor Mihails Čuļpajevs and the Musiikkitalo Choir.
classical(2 days)
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra performs a world premiere of Antti Auvinen's violin concerto with Swedish soloist Ava Bahari, conducted by Nicholas Collon, alongside works by Vaughan Williams and Shostakovich.
