Santtu-Matias Rouvali (born 5 November 1985 in Lahti) is a Finnish conductor who grew up in a family of musicians - both his parents played in the Lahti Symphony Orchestra. He trained first as a percussionist before studying conducting at the Sibelius Academy under Jorma Panula and Leif Segerstam. Since September 2021 he has been Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, only the sixth person to hold that title in the orchestra's history, and he holds the position of Honorary Conductor at the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rouvali and the Philharmonia Orchestra completed an extensive European tour with concerts in Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna.
Rouvali led the Philharmonia Orchestra on a tour of South Korea, joined by violinist Clara-Yumi Kang.
Rouvali conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra on a major US tour, culminating at Carnegie Hall, as the orchestra celebrated its 80th anniversary.
Rouvali made his second appearance at the Bravo! Vail Festival conducting the New York Philharmonic, with soprano Miah Persson and pianist Yulianna Avdeeva-Neudauer.
The 2024-25 season was Rouvali's last as Chief Conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, ending an eight-year tenure marked by a farewell concert in Gothenburg.
festival(9 days)
An international classical music festival featuring Finnish orchestras and artists alongside the London Philharmonia Orchestra.
concert18:00Philharmonia Orchestra performs at Helsinki Music Hall under conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali with pianist Gabriela Montero. The programme includes the Finnish premiere of Montero's Latin Concerto and Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 3.