Symphony in F Minor / Concert Piece for Violin and Orchestra

"the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra give an ardent account of the symphony" (Gramophone)

THE FINNISH RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (FRSO) is the orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company. It celebrated its 75th anniversary in autumn 2002. Founded as a ten-member ensemble in 1927, the Radio Orchestra became a full-sized symphony orchestra in the 1960s. Its chief conductors have included Toivo Haapanen, Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Paavo Berglund, Okko Kamu, Leif Segerstam and Jukka-Pekka Saraste, whose fourteen-year tenure ended in summer 2001. Sakari Oramo was engaged as conductor alongside Saraste in 1994, and in autumn 2003 took over the duties of chief conductor.

The FRSO focuses on contemporary Finnish music and premieres several works commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company each year.

The orchestra has cut over 80 recordings. Among these is a historical gem, a performance of Jean Sibelius's Andante festivo conducted by the composer himself, recorded in the concert hall of the Helsinki Conservatory (now the Sibelius Academy) on New Year's Day 1939 for a radio broadcast to America. This remained the only recording of Sibelius conducting.

The FRSO has given over 230 concerts abroad. Tours were established as a permanent and regular feature in the orchestra's programme during the tenure of Jukka-Pekka Saraste. He conducted two tours of the Far East and initiated regular visits to Vienna, the Proms in London and the Canary Islands Music festival.

The FRSO is the resident orchestra of YLE Radio 1, which broadcasts the orchestra's concerts at home and abroad, usually live.