Van Cliburn winner Aristo Sham to make Tampere debut with French romantic programme

This September, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra takes audiences on a musical journey from the rich landscapes of French Romanticism to the sparkling fantasy worlds of Benjamin Britten and Igor Stravinsky. The orchestra will be joined by an exceptional line-up of internationally acclaimed artists whose careers are rapidly on the rise, including pianist Aristo Sham.

On Friday 18 September, Tampere Philharmonic turns its focus to France under the baton of French conductor Chloé Van Soeterstède. The programme features Lili Boulanger’s radiant D’un matin de printemps (Of a Spring Morning), Camille Saint-Saëns’ exotic Piano Concerto No. 5 and César Franck’s powerful Symphony in D minor.

The evening’s soloist, Hong Kong-born pianist Aristo Sham, is one of the most exciting rising stars in classical music today. He won the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2025, also taking home the Audience Award. The victory propelled him onto the international stage, earning invitations from leading orchestras and concert halls around the world.

Sham began performing professionally at the age of ten. Once known as a child prodigy, he has since studied at both Harvard University and The Juilliard School, and has appeared with major ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle.

The concert also marks the first appearance of Chloé Van Soeterstède with Tampere Philharmonic. Widely regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young conductors, she currently serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and is admired for her energetic musicianship, vivid orchestral colours and strong connection with both performers and audiences.

TPO´s concert on Friday 18 September 2026: French Romanticism

Britten and Stravinsky in the Firebird concert

One week later, on Friday 25 September, the Tampere Hall stage hosts a programme combining contemporary orchestral music, a poetic song cycle and one of the most dazzling classics in the orchestral repertoire. The concert will be conducted by French-British conductor Stephanie Childress, with acclaimed Finnish soprano Marjukka Tepponen as soloist.

The evening opens with the world premiere of Keep Your Eyes Open, a new work by Armenian-American composer Mary Kouyoumdjian. Receiving its first performance in Tampere, the piece explores the allure of power, humanity’s desire for permanence and the strengths and dangers of collective psychology.

Based on cultural historian Colin Dickey’s text Under the Eye of Power, the work examines how individuals can find freedom and belonging within a group while simultaneously risking the loss of critical thinking. As its title suggests, Keep Your Eyes Open urges audiences to remain alert to the influences shaping the world around them.

A Grammy-nominated composer and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Kouyoumdjian is known for music that intertwines personal stories, historical events and social issues into compelling musical narratives. Drawing on her Armenian heritage, she has explored themes including memory, identity, migration and the human impact of conflict. Her works often combine orchestral writing with documentary elements and a strong sense of storytelling, engaging audiences far beyond the traditional classical music sphere. Read more of the composer M

Keep Your Eyes Open was co-commissioned by Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Naples Philharmonic.

The programme is completed by Benjamin Britten’s Les Illuminations, performed by Marjukka Tepponen, and Igor Stravinsky’s vibrant and exhilarating Firebird Suite (1911).

Among Finland’s most internationally successful opera singers, Tepponen has appeared at venues including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Semperoper Dresden and the Savonlinna Opera Festival. Tampere audiences will also recognise her from the title roles in recent Tampere Opera productions of La Traviata and Don Carlos.

Conductor Stephanie Childress is another leading talent of her generation. Originally trained as a violinist, she won Second Prize at the prestigious La Maestra International Conducting Competition in Paris in 2020. She has since conducted major orchestras including the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. She currently serves as Principal Guest Conductor of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra.

TPO’s concert on Friday 25 September 2026: The Firebird

Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert offer local audiences a chance to experience some of the most talked-about artists in classical music today, alongside conductors who represent the future of the international podium.

TPO’s concerts take place on Fridays at 7 pm in the Tampere Hall Main Auditorium. Upcoming performances can be found in the orchestra’s concert calendar.