GUEST CONDUCTORS
ATSO ALMILA
Atso Almila was engaged as the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra's Artistic Director between fall 1995 until August 2000.
Almila studied trombone, choir conducting with Harald Andersén and orchestral conducting with Professor Jorma Panula in the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki, graduating in orchestral conducting in 1979.
Almila has been the conductor of some outstanding Finnish choirs, and was the musical director of the National Theatre of Finland between 1982 and 1995. He was principal conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra between 1987-1989 and teaches orchestral conducting in the Sibelius Academy of Helsinki. From 1995-2000 he was principal conductor of the Joensuu Orchestra. While continuing to work as a teacher of conducting, he makes regular guest appearances with all major orchestras in Finland.
He has also conducted several opera productions at the Finnish National Opera as well as in local opera productions around Finland. Almila took over professor Jorma Panula's position as 'court composer' to the Ilmajoki Music Festival.
Almila is also known for his compositions for chamber ensembles and stage productions. The first of his operas was "Kolmekymmentä hopearahaa" (Thirty Pieces of Silver, 1988), based on the story of a Revivalist preacher in the 19th century. He has later written the emigrant opera "Ameriikka" (America, 1992); "Isontaloon Antti" (Antti Isotalo, 2000), set in early 20th-century Ostrobothnia; and "Pohjanmaan kautta" (Bottoms Up! 2002), set in the time of the Prohibition. Almila's operas are simple in style, consciously designed as folk operas, and often quote folk music. In addition to operas and music for some 40 stage plays, Almila has written a substantial body of instrumental music.
