Mikko Franck

Mikko Franck (born 1 April 1979) is a Finnish conductor and violinist.

Biography

Franck was born in Helsinki, and began to play the violin at the age of 5. He continued violin studies at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, beginning in 1992. In 1995, Franck took an opportunity from the Junior Department at the Sibelius Academy, which was celebrating its anniversary, to conduct an orchestra offered to any student who wished to do so. After this occurred, Jorma Panula immediately enlisted him as a private student. Franck entered Panula's conducting class at the Sibelius Academy in the fall of 1996. He has said of Panula:

"He gave me everything that can be taught about this profession. For instance, we used video as an aid in losing my unnecessary mannerisms."

Franck ended his studies there in 1998 without receiving a diploma because his international career had already begun.[1]

Before age 23, Franck had made his conducting début with all of the leading Scandinavian orchestras, as well as with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Berlin Staatsoper (Berlin State Opera) and the Israel Philharmonic. He received a Grammy nomination for "Best Orchestral Performance" for his first recording, which was of music by Jean Sibelius. He is a particular champion of the works of Einojuhani Rautavaara.

Franck became artistic director of the National Orchestra of Belgium in September 2002, and held the post until 2007. In 2004, Franck was named general music director of the Finnish National Opera and officially took up the post in August 2006. In February 2007, he suddenly announced his resignation from this position, claiming a loss of confidence in the company's then-general director Erkki Korhonen and administrative director Pekka Kauranen.[2] However, in November 2007, the company nominated Franck to the dual post of Artistic Director and General Music Director,[3] and in December 2007, officially named him to both posts.[4] Franck concluded his tenure in both posts as of 31 July 2013.[5] Franck began his tenure as the music director of the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France in September 2015. In September 2020, the orchestra announced the most recent extension of his contract, through 2025.[6]

Franck married the German opera director Martina Pickert in 2006. The couple divorced in 2010.

Selected Discography
  • Jean Sibelius - Lemminkäinen Suite / En saga; Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ondine 953; 2000)
  • Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 / Einojuhani Rautavaara - Apotheosis; Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Ondine 1002; 2003)
  • [Einojuhani Rautavaara]] - The House of the Sun: Oulu Symphony Orchestra; Jukka Romu, Raija Regnell, Ulla Raiskio, Tuomas Katajala, Petri Backstrom, Tommi Hakala, Markus Nieminen, Helena Juntunen, Mia Huhta, Anne-Kristiina Kaappola, singers (Ondine 1032; 2004)
  • Einojuhani Rautavaara - Rasputin: Finnish National Opera Orchestra and Finnish National Opera Chorus; Lilli Paasikivi, Jorma Hynninen, Jyrki Anttila, Riikka Rantanen, Ritva-Liisa Korhonen, Jyrki Korhonen, Gabriel Suovanen, Matti Salminen, Lassi Virtanen, singers (Ondine 1002; 2005)
  • Einojuhani Rautavaara - Symphony No. 1, Adagio Celeste, Book of Visions; Belgian National Orchestra (Ondine 1064; 2006)

References
  1. Hako, P., Keskusteluja ja kirjoituksia (Discussions and writings; "Rautavaara & Franck"). WSOY 2006. ISBN 978-951-0-31058-8
  2. Vivien Schweitzer (15 February 2007). "With Harsh Words, Conductor Mikko Franck Resigns From Finnish National Opera". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  3. "Mikko Franck nominated for post of Artistic Director and General Music Director" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  4. "Mikko Franck appointed Artistic Director of the Finnish National Opera" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 18 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  5. "Eight premieres at the Finnish National Opera in the 2013–2014 season" (Press release). Finnish National Opera. 8 May 2013. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  6. Guillaume Decalf (2020-09-17). "Mikko Franck poursuit l'aventure avec le Philharmonique de Radio France". France Musique. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
Cultural offices
Preceded by
Yuri Simonov		 Music Director, Belgian National Orchestra
2002–2007		 Succeeded by
Walter Weller
Preceded by
Muhai Tang		 Music Director, Finnish National Opera
2006–2013		 Succeeded by
Michael Güttler (principal conductor)
Preceded by
Myung-whun Chung		 Music Director, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
2015–present		 Succeeded by
incumbent
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