I had a great pleasure to start this year in Austria, playing a New Year’s Concert with waltzes and polkas by the Strauss dynasty. The Kärntner Sinfonieorchester was conducted by Daniele Rustioni and the sparkling violin soloist was Fracesca Dego.
Just a few days later, it was the time of the orchestra finale of the Lappeenranta singing competition, that has the 50th anniversary this year. I’m proud of having been the concert master of the Saimaa Sinfonietta in this project. Conuducted by Vytautas Lukočius we accompanied 9 wonderful young singers, and played also Lohengrin-Ouverture by Wagner and a premiered a piece “Satumetsä”, “Enchanted forest” by a Finnish composer Harri Vuori.
The whole final was broadcasted by the Finnish national tv- and radio-company YLE, and can be found live stramed under this link.
Once more congratulations to all the finalists, and especially to the first price winners Virve Puumala and Jussi Vänttinen!