Sibelius medal to the Principal Conductor of Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä

The Sibelius Society of Finland (Sibelius Seura ry.) has given the Sibelius Medal to the Principal Conductor of Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Osmo Vänskä due to his performances in Finland and abroad. Mr. Vänskä has recorded with Lahti Symphony Orchestra widely music of Jean Sibelius, e.g. all symphonies and several works which never before had seen the daylight, as Wood Nymph. Also many original versions have been played and recorded under conduction of Mr. Vänskä, as e.g. Violin concerto, fifth symphony, tone poems, Rondo of the Waves and En Saga. The recordings of Osmo Vänskä and Lahti Symphony Orchestra have received several international awards, as e.g. Gramophone and Cannes Classical awards. The annual Sibelius Festival in Lahti has attracted attention of large new audience. The medal designed by sculptor Eila Hiltunen  (Sibelius Monument in Helsinki) was given to Osmo Vänskä on Saturday 10th September 2005 during the sixth international Sibelius Festival.

The Sibelius Society of Finland (founded in 1957) will arrange in November-December this year the ninth international Sibelius violin competition. The first one was in 1965. Since 1996 the society, together with he University of Helsinki and publishing house Breitkopf & Härtel, is publishing the critical edition of the entire composition production of Sibedlius, which will include about 50 volumes when it will be completed.

Osmo Vänskä (born 1953) has in least few years reached the most important conductors and well established his position among them. The principal conducter Osmo Vänskä has worked with the orchestra since 1988 (principal visitor 1985-88). Mr. Vänskä started as Music Director in Autumn 2003 in Minnesota Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the United States. During his career Mr. Vänskä has made more than 50 recordings. During the last decade he has conducted all over Europe, Japan, United States of America and Australia. He has received several awards of which one to be mentioned is the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for his merits as interpreter of Sibelius’s and Nielsen’s music.