Making his debut with the TSO, the genre crossing Finnish violinist and conductor Pekka Kuusisto immediately established a mood of informality and spontaneity in his spoken introduction to the program. 

Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016) is Finland’s most renowned composer after Sibelius; his Pelimannit (The Fiddlers) Op. 1 uses traditional folk tunes as the basis for a five-movement suite for string orchestra, originally composed for piano. Kuusisto played solo violin versions of the tunes as introductions to Rautavaara’s energetic colourful modern treatments that featured varied rhythms, harmonies and wide range of feeling.

Pekka Kuusisto. Portrait supplied

British composer Anna Clyne’s Time and Tides is a violin concerto commissioned by five major orchestras including the TSO and premiered in Helsinki in 2023. It incorporates four folk tunes from England, Finland, Scotland and America, focussing on themes of boating, oceans, and partings from loved ones.

The work was immediately compelling and ultimately moving in its constantly evolving emotional states and instrumental colour, starting and finishing with Kuusisto whistling and the orchestra vocally joining in at the conclusion.

The TSO responded with splendidly assured and stylistically confident work. Kuussisto’s playing was refined and ethereal with a remarkably improvisatory sound and selective and sparing use of vibrato that was quite personal and unique.

The concert concluded with an amazingly poised but energised performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21. The polished playing from the orchestra was warmly expressive with lifted rhythms. In the third movement Menuetto the result was wonderfully buoyant and taken at a daringly fast tempo.

To conclude, both orchestra and audience gave their fulsome applause to this distinguished, inspirational musician. This was one of those rare musical events where soloist/conductor, orchestra and audience all shared an experience of intense joy and celebration. 

For information on the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 2026, visit this link.