• Chief Conductor and Artistic Director  / Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
• Honorary Conductor Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra

 

Jukka-Pekka Saraste has established himself as one of the most outstanding conductors of his generation, renowned for his remarkable musical depth, integrity, and objective approach. Born in Heinola, Finland, Saraste began his musical career as a violinist before studying conducting with Jorma Panula at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Over the years, he has developed a special affinity with the sound and style of late Romantic music, maintaining a particularly strong connection to the works of Beethoven, Bruckner, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Mahler and Sibelius.

In September 2023, Jukka-Pekka Saraste commenced his tenure as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. His artistic vision includes exploring the symphonic heritage of Sibelius, Mahler, and Bruckner, while also highlighting contemporary composers and music of our time. 

A significant project during his tenure with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is Sibelius & Saraste, a series dedicated to recording all of Jean Sibelius’ symphonies as high-quality multi-camera productions. This ambitious project launched on 7 November 2024 with Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 at Helsinki Musiikkitalo, broadcast live worldwide on Deutsche Grammophon’s classical music streaming platform STAGE+ and ARTE Concert. Given the orchestra’s historical connection with Sibelius — having premiered most of his orchestral works — this series brings extra depth and authenticity. Saraste aims to create the atmosphere of a live concert experience, sharing the story of Sibelius' orchestra with an international audience. The recordings include Sibelius' complete symphonies and will be finalized in 2025 to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the composer's birth.

Beyond Helsinki, Saraste’s career has been marked by leadership roles with some of the world's top orchestras. From 2010 to 2019, he served as Chief Conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra in Cologne, earning acclaim for symphonic cycles of Sibelius, Brahms, and Beethoven, and leading international tours. Earlier, he was Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, and he also held principal conductorships with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, alongside roles as Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Advisor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra.

Jukka-Pekka Saraste has led major orchestras across the globe, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic. In recent years, he has developed a strong operatic profile, with successful productions of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle, Korngold’s Die tote Stadt, and Reimann's Lear, among others. In early 2025, he conducted a new production of Strauss's Salome at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.

Jukka-Pekka Saraste is a founding member of the LEAD! Foundation, created in 2017 to support the emerging careers of young conductors, composers, and aspiring orchestra leaders. Based in Finland and active internationally, the foundation runs projects in cities such as Munich, Stockholm, Lausanne, Dortmund, and Sofia. In 2020, Saraste founded the Fiskars Summer Festival, an international platform where Finnish and international artists share their knowledge with the next generation. The festival hosts the annual LEAD! Foundation Masterclass for Conductors and presents the Fiskars Festival Orchestra, a multinational symphony orchestra composed of young musicians and their mentors. Coaching and mentoring young artists remains a core passion for Saraste, and this initiative represents a unique and meaningful contribution to the classical music world.

An extensive discography reflects his artistic range. His recordings include the complete symphonies of Sibelius and Nielsen with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, works by Bartók, Dutilleux, Mussorgsky, and Prokofiev with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and acclaimed recordings with the WDR Symphony Orchestra, including Brahms’ complete symphonies, Mahler’s 5th and 9th Symphonies, and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8. His Beethoven symphonic cycle with WDR is considered a legacy of his tenure in Cologne.

In recognition of his significant contributions to music, he has received the Pro Finlandia Medal, the Sibelius Medal, the Finnish State Prize for Music, and the insignia of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland. He holds honorary doctorates from York University in Toronto and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki.

A conductor of remarkable breadth and depth, Jukka-Pekka Saraste continues to shape the classical music landscape, bridging the past and present with integrity, artistry, and a profound commitment to mentoring the next generation.