Sinfonia Lahti’s 75th anniversary year culminated in a concert on December 6, celebrating 108 years of Finnish independence and 120 years of the city of Lahti. On 8 December, the festivities will continue in Hämeenlinna, marking the 160th birthday of Jean Sibelius.

Sinfonia Lahti invited violinist Otto Antikainen to be the soloist for both concerts. Thanks to him the high-level XIII Jean Sibelius Violin Competition was particularly exciting for the Finnish audience. He was the first Finn to reach the competition’s finals since 2010, and his performance of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto was met with thunderous applause. Guests at the Lahti Symphony Orchestra’s anniversary celebrations now have the opportunity to enjoy Otto’s interpretation.

“Everything’s great! I’ve already recovered from the competition, and I’ve spent the summer and fall playing here and there,” Otto says of his recent activities. He remembers the violin competition as a wonderful, albeit tough, experience: “The pressure was intense, but that’s probably why the experience was even more impressive for me. It is interesting and rewarding to return to Sibelius’s violin concerto for the first time since the competition. The feelings are a bit different to how they were in May”, Otto says with a smile.

Otto, continuing his studies at the Sibelius Academy, has received new invitations to perform as a soloist following his success in the competition. He will spend much of the coming spring preparing for and concentrating on these engagements. “Otherwise, life goes on as normal, and I’m looking very much forward to playing with Sinfonia Lahti!”

Both concerts will be conducted by Janne Nisonen, also a violinist by training. In addition to Finnish orchestras, Nisonen has guest conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra. Nisonen holds the position of concertmaster of the Tapiola Sinfonietta.

Text: Hannele Eklund
Photo: Matias Ahonen