Aulis Sallinen

Finnish composer Aulis Heikki Sallinen was born in Salmi on 9 April 1935. He studied violin and piano, and learned to play both classical music and jazz. His teachers at the Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki included Joonas Kokkonen and Aarre Merikanto.

Whilst composing, he initially took a series of other jobs. He taught composition at the Sibelius Academy to students including Jouni Kaipainen and Herman Rechberger. From 1960 until 1969 he was general manager of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. From 1971-4 he was chairman of the board of the Society of Finnish Composers.

In 1976 the Finnish government made him an 'artist professor', which meant that he could concentrate on composition, and from then on he began to receive commissions and his output began to be noticed much more. He has written eight symphonies, and several operas - The Horseman, The Red Line, The King Goes Forth to France, Kullervo, The Palace, King Lear and Castle in the Water - plus other orchestral music, a series of concertos and vocal, choral and chamber music.

In 2004 the first album in a series of his complete orchestral music was released on CPO.

His music has been described as neoclassical and diotonic, with a strong national identity, and he has been described as the natural successor to Jean Sibelius.

 

A selection of articles about Aulis Sallinen

CD Spotlight. Riveting Discoveries - Music from Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... as absorbing as it is enticing.'

CD Spotlight. A class act - Finnish music for strings, reviewed by Greg Barns. 'Finland's prodigious musical talent is once again on display ...'