The Colorado Symphony won’t discuss what candidates it is considering for its music director vacancy, but clearly, Hannu Lintu is getting a close look.
The 41-year-old Finnish maestro, who makes his Denver debut this weekend, is a well- regarded up-and-comer, regularly guest conducting orchestras all over the world.
In Finland, which has produced such conducting stars as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Osmo Vänskä, he leads the Tampere Philharmonic and will take over as chief conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony in 2013-14.
In an interview before his first rehearsal with the Colorado Symphony earlier this week, he spoke about his future and what makes Finland such a conducting hotbed.
Q:Are you interested in the open music-director position here in Denver?
A: I don’t know. I’m taking a very big position in Europe in 2013, which means I have to think how much I want to stabilize my musical life. How much do I want to continue traveling? I go to Asia, from Asia to America, then back to America and then to Europe. Later, this must be organized somehow, and having another orchestra somewhere might be part of this organizing process. So I’m passively looking around, but I’ve also told my agent I don’t want them to push me anywhere.
Q: What is it about Finland, a relatively small country, that has allowed it to produce such a high number of excellent conductors?A: Conducting as a profession is not that old — it’s a little bit more than 100 years old. Finland doesn’t have a long musical tradition as such, but we happen to have a very long tradition in conducting. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in the 1880s, and since then we have always had conductors with international careers, even before the famous professor, Jorma Panula, started to teach.
Kyle MacMillan: 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com
conductor hannu lintu
Classical music. Boettcher Concert Hall, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets. The up-and-coming Finnish conductor joins guest violinist Vadim Gluzman and the Colorado Symphony for a program that includes Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 1. 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday. $19-$80. 303-623-7876 or
