Osmo Vänskä

Osmo Vänskä, Conductor Laureate of the Minnesota Orchestra (voted Gramophone’s 2021 Orchestra of the Year) and former Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, is celebrated for his compelling interpretations and energetic podium presence. His 19-year tenure with the Minnesota Orchestra included five European tours, a historic trip to Cuba, and a groundbreaking tour to South Africa, alongside acclaimed performances at the BBC Proms. This season, he conducts orchestras such as Montreal, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Bayerische Rundfunk, Philharmonia, Oslo Philharmonic and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. A distinguished recording artist for BIS, Vänskä has recorded the complete symphonies of Mahler, Beethoven and Sibelius (winning a 2014 GRAMMY®). He received the 1982 Besançon Competition first prize and has been honored with a Royal Philharmonic Society Award and the Ditson Award and an Honorary Doctorate from The Curtis Institute of Music. Vänskä also performs chamber music and has recorded clarinet works for BIS.