Making his debut with the TSO, the genre crossing Finnish violinist and conductor Pekka Kuusisto immediately establishes 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 plays solo violin versions of the tunes as introductions to Rautavaara’s energetic colourful modern treatments that featur varied rhythms, harmonies and a 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 is 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 responds with splendidly assured and stylistically confident work. Kuussisto’s playing is refined and ethereal with a remarkably improvisatory sound and selective and sparing use of vibrato that is quite personal and unique.

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

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

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