The Chamber Orchestra of Lapland is the descendant of the Rovaniemi Orchestra
founded in 1972 and renamed the Rovaniemi City Orchestra in 1982. It has 17 players
and its Artistic Director since autumn 1996 has been conductor John Storgårds.
The most northerly professional orchestra in the European Union, the Chamber Orchestra
of Lapland is a regional orchestra based on the town of Rovaniemi and giving performances
both in the Province of Lapland and all over the arctic region and Finland. It is frequently invited
to festivals, such as the Tampere Biennale, Viitasaari Time of Music, the Kaustinen Chamber
Music Week, the North Norway Festival, the Korsholm Music Festival and, of course, the LuostoClassic
event, where it is a regular attraction. It has also appeared in the Classics Series of the Helsinki
Philharmonic Orchestra.
In both its working methods and its resources, the Chamber Orchestra of Lapland has become one of the most versatile orchestras in Finland, its adaptability and professionalism making it a front-line actor on the Finnish arts scene. It frequently gives the first performance in Finland of works by international composers of all eras and has premiered works by a number of leading contemporary composers, such as Aulis Sallinen, Paavo Heininen, Pehr Henrik Nordgren ja Jószef Sári.
The orchestra has won considerable recognition for its work. Finland’s TV 1 nominated the orchestra
and conductor John Storgårds Bright Spot of the Year in 1998 and the Arts Council of Lapland
awarded the orchestra the regional arts prize for Lapland in 2000. Also in 2000, John Storgårds
received the culture prize of the City of Rovaniemi and Rovaniemi Rural District for his work
on behalf of the Chamber Orchestra of Lapland. The Finnish Broadcasting Company
(YLE) TV 1 awarded it the Bright Spot of the Year prize in 2003 for the premiere
performance, on Luosto Fell, of the Luosto Symphony by Kalevi Aho in partnership
with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Luosto Symphony was released on CD by BIS in spring 2008 by The Lahti
Symphony Orchestra and The Chamber Orchestra of Lapland.
|