“Sallinen […] is a natural conductor. He has a rhythmic drive and a sense of style, as well as the ability to break boundaries with a cheerful sense of humour.”
- Helsingin Sanomat
Kristian Sallinen
About
Kristian Sallinen is an exceptional talent who exhibits a natural authority and charismatic flair on the podium. He assumes the title of Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in August 2027.
With a rapidly expanding international presence, Sallinen continues to make significant orchestral debuts alongside numerous returns. Forthcoming first appearances this year and next include his US debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, his Australian debut with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and engagements with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, MDR-Sinfonieorchester, Düsseldorfer Symphoniker, Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, among others.
In the 2026/27 season he returns for two main-series engagements with the Brussels Philharmonic, as well as concerts with the Gothenburg Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Münchener Kammerorchester, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Tapiola Sinfonietta and Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Musica. He also makes his debut at the 2027 Savonlinna Opera Festival, conducting Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
“A super-talented new conducting star has arrived on the Finnish symphonic music scene: […] Kristian Sallinen, who has already established an international career.”
- Helsingin Sanomat
