Concert "LNSO, maestro Panula and Tarmo Peltokoski" at the Riga Congress House
On Friday at the Riga Congress House and Latvian Radio 3 "Classics" live - a concert "LNSO, maestro Panula and Tarmo Peltokoski. Sibelius and Prokofiev", in which Finnish maestro Jorma Panula was at the conductor's console. Under his direction, Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto with soloist Tami Pokhola and Sergei Prokofiev's Seventh Symphony was performed, and the concert began with Sibelius' symphonic poem "Finland", conducted by the special guest of the concert – Tarmo Peltokoski, a student of Jorma Panula.
The live broadcast was conducted by Liene Yakovleva, offering conversations with soloist Tami Pohjola, LNSO musicians Arigo Strals and Ināra Miracles, young conductors Artūrs Oskars Mitrēvics and Māris Kuģes, as well as LNSO director Indra Lukins.
Jorma Panula (1930) is one of the best-known teachers of outstanding conductors – among them are such Finnish conductors as Esa Peka Salonen, Miko Frank, Sakari Oramo, Yuka Peka Saraste and Klaus Mekele. Tarmo Peltokoski also conducted his studies with the outstanding master. The legendary maestro has also been the artistic director and principal conductor of the Turkish Philharmonic Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. At the moment, he is a sought-after guest conductor who has brought pedagogical activity to the forefront. The master classes led by Jorma Panula are recognized all over the world, especially prestigious is the international competition "Jorma Panula International Conducting Competition", founded by him, which has been held since 1999.
Tarmo Peltokoski says about his teacher: "Jorma Panula is an inimitable conducting mentor, a real living legend! My first encounter with Jorma Panul was in 2014, and in the following years I learned the skills required for a conductor with him. But he also taught me a lot about life. Jorma Panula celebrated his 94th anniversary in August, but there is no indication that he is about to stop. The name of Panula is known all over the world. There is respect and awe for him. Of all Finnish musicians, he is comparable to Sibelius himself in terms of historical influence."
Although young, violinist TAMI POHJOLA has already triumphed in international and national competitions and performed throughout Europe. She won first place at the Dinu Lipati International Violin Competition in 2019 and the Kuopio Violin Competition in 2015. She won the Estonian International Young Musicians Competition in 2009, as well as won second place in the Juhani Heinonen Violin Competition in Jiveskile: in 2009 in the junior category, and in 2012 in the group of senior artists.
As a soloist, Tami Pohjola has performed with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lohija City Orchestra, the Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Hiwinke City Orchestra, the Ostrobotnia Chamber Orchestra, the Pori Sinfonietta, the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra and others. In February 2021, the artist performed with the Joensu City Orchestra at the Joensu Winter Music Festival, while in October 2022, Tami made her UK debut, with the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, playing Sibelius Violin Concerto. She is also an active chamber musician.
In December 2023, Tami Pohjola made her debut with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, playing Violin Concerto by Esa Peka Salonen.
Tami Pohjola turned to playing the violin at the age of three, studied at the Espoo Institute of Music with Gražina Geranska-Gebert, and then at the Sibelius Academy with Rēka Silvai. She continued her studies at the Munich School of Music and Theatre with Mi-kyun Lee and is currently studying at the Hochschule of Music in Valais in Sion with Jeanine Jansen. Pohjola plays the 1754 Guadani violin, which was given to her by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
