Aulis Sallinen - Early adult life, Later life, Career highlights

Composer, born in Salmi, SW Finland. He studied at the Sibelius Academy (1955–60), and later taught there (1963–76). His works include four operas - The Horseman (1975), The Red Line (1978), The King Goes Forth to France (1984), and Kullervo (for the new Helsinki opera house). He has also written a wide range of orchestral works (including six symphonies), chamber music, concertos, songs, and choral music, all in an eclectic, adventurous but mainly tonal idiom.

Aulis Sallinen (1935–) is a Finnish contemporary classical music composer. He has had works commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, and has also written 6 operas, 8 symphonies, a Violin Concerto and any number of chamber works. He won the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1978 for his opera "Ratsumies" (The Horseman). He attended the Sibelius Academy of Music, and studied with a number of prestigious teachers.

Early adult life

After graduating, Sallinen took a position as composition teacher at the Sibelius Academy, and continued composing. In his mid 20's, he was put on the board of directors of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Though he was a known teacher and was on many boards of directors, his compositions were not particularly noted until he was made "Professor of Arts for Life" by the Finnish government, giving him money so he could focus more on composition.

Later life

After receiving that award, Sallinen devoted great amounts of time to his composing. He has received a number of commissions from some very renowned groups and has composed seven symphonies, including a composition inspired by "The Hobbit" and containing Finnish folk tunes.

Career highlights

1960 - awarded diploma from the Sibelius Academy. 1960-70 - administrator of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 1978 - Nordic Council Music Prize for The Horseman. 1981 - becomes the first person to be made a Professor of Arts for life by the Finnish Government, enabling him to concentrate oncomposing full-time. 1983 - Wihuri International Sibelius Prize. 2004 - first in series of recordings of complete orchestral music released on the cpo label. opera, Ratsumies (Finnish), Ryttaren (Swedish)) The Red Line (1978; opera) Chamber Music III ‘The Nocturnal Dances of Don Juan Quixote’ (1983; 7 - CPO 999 918-2 Kullervo - Ondine ODE 844-2 Shadows; Chamber Music III - Ultima 8573819722