Mikko Franck

Last updated

Mikko Franck
2015 Mikko Franck (16456067484).jpg
Franck in 2015
Born (1979-04-01) 1 April 1979 (age 45)
Occupations
  • Conductor
  • Violinist
Spouse
Martina Picket
(m. 2006;div. 2010)

Mikko Franck (born 1 April 1979) is a Finnish conductor and violinist.

Contents

Biography

Franck was born in Helsinki. He began learning the violin at the age of 5 and started violin studies at the Sibelius Academy in 1992. The Academy let Franck conduct an orchestra in 1995, whereupon Jorma Panula enlisted him as a private student. Franck entered Panula's conducting class at the Academy in 1996, leaving in 1998 as his international career began. [1] He said Panula "gave me everything that can be taught about this profession."

Before age 23, Franck had made his conducting début with all leading Scandinavian orchestras, with the London Philharmonia, London Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Berlin State Opera Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic.

His first recording, of Jean Sibelius, received a Grammy nomination for "Best Orchestral Performance". He champions Einojuhani Rautavaara's works.

Franck was the Belgian National Orchestra's artistic director from 2002 to 2007. He became the Finnish National Opera's general music director in August 2006. Six months later, he claimed a loss of confidence in the company's then-general director Erkki Korhonen and administrative director Pekka Kauranen, and announced his resignation. [2] In response, the company nominated Franck to the dual post of Artistic Director and General Music Director. [3] [4] His term in both posts finished in 2013. [5]

Franck became music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in September 2015. [6] He is scheduled to stand down as the orchestra's music director at the close of the 2024-2025 season. [7]

Unusually for conductors, Franck generally conducts while seated in a chair due to a painful spine condition. [8]

Franck and opera director Martina Pickert married in 2006. The couple divorced in 2010.

Selected discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Einojuhani Rautavaara</span> Finnish composer (1928–2016)

Einojuhani Rautavaara was a Finnish composer of classical music. Among the most notable Finnish composers since Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), Rautavaara wrote a great number of works spanning various styles. These include eight symphonies, nine operas and fifteen concertos, as well as numerous vocal and chamber works. Having written early works using 12-tone serial techniques, his later music may be described as neo-romantic and mystical. His major works include his first piano concerto (1969), Cantus Arcticus (1972) and his seventh symphony, Angel of Light (1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paavo Berglund</span> Finnish conductor and violinist

Paavo Allan Engelbert Berglund was a Finnish conductor and violinist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibelius Academy</span> Music university in Helsinki, Finland

The Sibelius Academy is part of the University of the Arts Helsinki and a university-level music school which operates in Helsinki and Kuopio, Finland. It also has an adult education centre in Järvenpää and a training centre in Seinäjoki. The Academy is the only music university in Finland. It is among the biggest European music universities with roughly 1,400 enrolled students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leif Segerstam</span> Finnish conductor and composer

Leif Selim Segerstam is a Finnish conductor, composer, violinist, violist and pianist, especially known for writing 371 symphonies, along with other works in his extensive oeuvre.

Atso Almila is a Finnish orchestral conductor, music director, composer, trombonist and teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorma Panula</span> Finnish conductor and composer

Jorma Juhani Panula is a Finnish conductor, composer, and teacher of conducting. He has mentored many Finnish conductors, such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mikko Franck, Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Osmo Vänskä, Klaus Mäkelä and Tarmo Peltokoski.

Sakari Markus Oramo, is a Finnish conductor. He is chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jorma Hynninen</span> Finnish opera singer

Jorma Kalervo Hynninen is a Finnish baritone who performs regularly with the world's major opera companies. He has also worked in opera administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mikk Murdvee</span> Estonian-Finnish conductor and violinist

Mikk Murdvee is an Estonian-Finnish conductor and violinist living in Helsinki, Finland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ondine (record label)</span> Finnish record label

Ondine is a Finnish classical record label founded in 1985 in Helsinki, Finland. Its catalogue with several award-winning releases includes over 600 titles with major Finnish and international artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lilli Paasikivi</span> Finnish mezzo-soprano

Lilli Katriina Paasikivi-Ilves is the artistic director of the Finnish National Opera since 2013 and a mezzo-soprano.

Aleksis Kivi (1995–96) is an opera in two acts by Einojuhani Rautavaara, to a libretto by the composer. It was first performed by the Savonlinna Opera Festival on 8 July 1997, with Jorma Hynninen in the title role. The opera deals with episodes in the life of Aleksis Kivi, the Finnish national writer. The opera was written at the request of Hynninen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olari Elts</span> Estonian conductor

Olari Elts is an Estonian conductor. He was the principal conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra from 2001 to 2006. He is the founder and director of the contemporary music ensemble NYYD Ensemble.

Mauri Arijoutsi Angervo is a Finnish classical violinist and conductor.

Hannu Petteri Lintu is a Finnish conductor.

Bjarte Engeset is a Norwegian classical conductor.

<i>A Requiem in Our Time</i> 1953 composition by Einojuhani Rautavaara

A Requiem in Our Time, Op. 3, is a composition for brass band and percussion by Einojuhani Rautavaara, written in 1953. It won him international attention while still a student.

Jutta Seppinen is a Finnish conductor and mezzo-soprano.

Rasputin is a 2003 Finnish-language opera in three acts by Einojuhani Rautavaara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaus Mäkelä</span> Finnish conductor and cellist

Klaus Mäkelä is a Finnish conductor and cellist. He is currently chief conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic, music director of the Orchestre de Paris, artistic partner and chief conductor-designate of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and music director-designate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

References

  1. Hako, P., Keskusteluja ja kirjoituksia (Discussions and writings; "Rautavaara & Franck"). WSOY 2006. ISBN   978-951-0-31058-8
  2. Vivien Schweitzer (15 February 2007). "With Harsh Words, Conductor Mikko Franck Resigns From Finnish National Opera". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  3. "Mikko Franck nominated for post of Artistic Director and General Music Director" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. "Mikko Franck appointed Artistic Director of the Finnish National Opera" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  5. "Eight premieres at the Finnish National Opera in the 2013–2014 season" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  6. Guillaume Decalf (17 September 2020). "Mikko Franck poursuit l'aventure avec le Philharmonique de Radio France". France Musique. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  7. Flore Caron (27 February 2024). "Jaap van Zweden nommé directeur musical du Philhar de Radio France". France Musique. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/05/arts/music/now-you-see-the-conductor-in-his-debut-now-you-dont-see-the.html
Cultural offices
Preceded by Music Director, Belgian National Orchestra
2002–2007
Succeeded by
Preceded by Music Director, Finnish National Opera
2006–2013
Succeeded by
Michael Güttler (principal conductor)
Preceded by Music Director, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
2015–present
Succeeded by
incumbent