Around the Music Festival

Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali has suddenly emerged as a strong candidate to become the next music director of the Cleveland Orchestra. He would succeed Franz Welser-Möst, who has held the position for 25 years. Rouvali is currently serving as principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London for a five-year term starting from the 2021/2022 season.

Rouvali is a 40-year-old born in Lahti. When he was invited to lead the Philharmonia Orchestra, he attracted attention as the youngest principal conductor of a London-based orchestra. He grew up in a family where his father was a clarinetist and his mother a violinist, and he studied percussion at the Lahti Conservatory and the Sibelius Conservatory. He later turned to conducting, honing his skills under Hannu Lintu, Jorma Panula, and Leif Segerstam.

He made his professional debut in 2009, conducting the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra as a substitute. Since 2013, he has served as artistic director and principal conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (2013-2023), principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (2017-2025), and principal guest conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, among other positions.

PHOTO：Philharmonia Orchestra　/　Chris Christodoulou