Vocal music and choral works at the heart of TPO’s autumn season
In the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s autumn 2026 season, the many dimensions of the human voice are interwoven with major orchestral works. Vocal music runs as a unifying thread throughout the season, with a strong emphasis on Finnish music. Alongside the orchestra, audiences will hear several choirs and vocal soloists. The 80th anniversary of Tampere Opera brings its own distinctive flavour to the programme, culminating in an Opera Gala in December.
The human voice is a central theme in Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s (TPO) concerts next autumn, with large-scale choral works forming the cornerstone of the season. Chief Conductor Matthew Halls opens his final season in Tampere in grand style, continuing his Sibelius cycle with Kullervo, a work that transports the listener into the world of Finland’s national epic and to the very heart of Finnish identity.
In the unique opening concert on 3 September, three choirs from Tampere join forces, with soprano Johanna Rusanen-Kartano and baritone Ville Rusanen as soloists. During the autumn, the orchestra will record Scottish composer James MacMillan’s choral work A European Requiem under the direction of Matthew Halls, in collaboration with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. The public concert on 2 October, scheduled during the recording week, will also be recorded.
The Tampere Philharmonic Choir will take part in The Touch of Beauty concert on 30 October, conducted by legendary maestro Mario Venzago.
A wealth of vocal soloists from autumn to Christmas, with the Opera Gala as a highlight
During the autumn, Tampere will welcome an exceptional line-up of leading Finnish vocal soloists. This year’s Park Concert takes an operatic theme, featuring tenor Tuomas Katajala as soloist. The traditional free open-air concert at Sorsapuisto on 8 August will be conducted by Chief Conductor Matthew Halls.
Soprano Marjukka Tepponen will appear as soloist in The Firebird concert on 25 September. In Her Voice, a mini opera by Tampere-based composer Minna Leinonen, the soloist will be Tuuli Takala, with the Tampere Opera Choir also taking part in the production. At the opening of the Tampere Festival of Light in Koskipuisto on 23 October, the premiere performance will feature recorded orchestral parts by the TPO, conducted by Ruut Kiiski.
December brings a true sense of festive splendour. Conductor Mikko Franck will lead TPO and the Tampere Opera Choir in the Opera Gala on 4 and 5 December. The concert’s soloists are internationally acclaimed Finnish stars, soprano Karita Mattila and baritone Tommi Hakala. Adding to the seasonal atmosphere is the orchestra’s Christmas concert on 11 December, featuring baritone Waltteri Torikka as soloist.
“It is quite exceptional that we are able to present Tampere audiences with such an extensive array of outstanding Finnish singers during the autumn – along with magnificent choirs,” says Eija Oravuo, General Manager of Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.
From Baroque gems to today’s dance music
The autumn programme forms a clear dramatic arc, and TPO is renowned for its ability to move seamlessly from one style to another – from electronic dance music in the Classical Trancelations concert (28 August) to a Baroque programme in Water Music (12 November) – without forgetting the classics.
Among the great orchestral works of the repertoire are Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird (25 September), Richard Strauss’s Also sprach Zarathustra (9 October), Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto (27 November) and Jean Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony (11 September). Honorary Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali brings the autumn season to a close on 17 and 18 December with a powerful performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, known as the “Titan”.
Late autumn features a wealth of music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky: the ballet The Nutcracker (20–21 November), the Fifth Symphony (27 November) and the Violin Concerto (17–18 December). Alongside these classics, the programme also includes more recent works by composers such as Väinö Raitio, Kaija Saariaho, Arvo Pärt and Lotta Wennäkoski.
In addition to the Park Concert (8 August), TPO will appear before a large audience at Nokia Arena in the Mansen tähdet concert. In this arena event (24 October), featuring nearly 20 artists from Tampere, both the soloists and the orchestra will be led by conductor Antti Rissanen. A family concert, Lost Key, composed by multi-talented musician Marzi Nyman, will complement the orchestra’s autumn offerings on 23 October.
Both familiar and new conductors will take the podium during the season. Returning guests include Olari Elts, Mikko Franck, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Kristian Sallinen and Mario Venzago, while new names include Stephanie Childress, Miguel Sepúlveda and Chloé Van Soeterstède.
The soloists feature leading Finnish and international artists. Among the pianists are Elisabeth Brauß, the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition winner Aristo Sham, and Cédric Tiberghien. Violin soloists include Otto Antikainen, Alena Baeva and Kreeta-Maria Kentala. From within the orchestra, Leader Johannes Põlda and Principal Horn Aleksi Mäkimattila will take to the stage as soloists.
TPO’s chamber music series Afternoon of a Fauns celebrates its 30th anniversary season. Chamber series concerts take place on Sunday afternoons in the Tampere Hall Small Auditorium. These concerts offer audiences a close-up experience of the orchestra’s musicians as chamber performers and provide insight into their artistic choices, as the programmes are drawn from works proposed by the musicians themselves.
Further details of TPO’s autumn programme and the concert calendar are available at tamperefilharmonia.fi.
The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s autumn 2026 concert programme and spring 2027 season series were announced on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 6.00 pm at Tampere Hall. Ticket sales for the concerts have now begun, with season ticket also available.
