Kalevi Aho
b. 1949
Finnish
Summary
Between 1974 – 1988 he taught music theory at Helskinki University and between 1988 – 1993 he was professor of composition at the Sibelius Academy. Since 1993 he has worked as a freelance composer supported by a state scholarship.
A highly productive composer, the main focus of Aho’s work consists of large-scale orchestral, chamber and vocal works which show influence by Shostakovich and Mahler. He has composed no less than thirteen symphonies as well as operas, concerti, vocal music and works for chamber groups and solo instruments.
Since 1992 Aho has been composer-in-residence of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, for whom he has written all of his most recent compositions. Many of his orchestral works have been recorded by the orchestra under its Principal Conductor, Osmo Vanska.
In 1974 Aho was awarded the Leonie Sonning Prize in Denmark, in 1990 the Henrik Steffens Prize in Germany and in 1996 the Flisaka Prize in Poland.
Biography
Finnish composer Kalevi Aho was born in Forssa, Southern Finland in 1949. He studied composition at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki and in Berlin with Boris Blacher.
Between 1974 – 1988 he taught music theory at Helskinki University and between 1988 – 1993 he was professor of composition at the Sibelius Academy. Since 1993 he has worked as a freelance composer supported by a state scholarship.
A highly productive composer, the main focus of Aho’s work consists of large-scale orchestral, chamber and vocal works which show influence by Shostakovich and Mahler. He has composed no less than thirteen symphonies as well as operas, concerti, vocal music and works for chamber groups and solo instruments.
Since 1992 Aho has been composer-in-residence of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, for whom he has written all of his most recent compositions. Many of his orchestral works have been recorded by the orchestra under its Principal Conductor, Osmo Vanska.
In 1974 Aho was awarded the Leonie Sonning Prize in Denmark, in 1990 the Henrik Steffens Prize in Germany and in 1996 the Flisaka Prize in Poland.
Between 1974 – 1988 he taught music theory at Helskinki University and between 1988 – 1993 he was professor of composition at the Sibelius Academy. Since 1993 he has worked as a freelance composer supported by a state scholarship.
A highly productive composer, the main focus of Aho’s work consists of large-scale orchestral, chamber and vocal works which show influence by Shostakovich and Mahler. He has composed no less than thirteen symphonies as well as operas, concerti, vocal music and works for chamber groups and solo instruments.
Since 1992 Aho has been composer-in-residence of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, for whom he has written all of his most recent compositions. Many of his orchestral works have been recorded by the orchestra under its Principal Conductor, Osmo Vanska.
In 1974 Aho was awarded the Leonie Sonning Prize in Denmark, in 1990 the Henrik Steffens Prize in Germany and in 1996 the Flisaka Prize in Poland.
Performances
There are no upcoming performances