Olli Mustonen
Upcoming Performances
About Olli Mustonen
Olli Mustonen is a postmodern composer building a bridge over Western classical music from baroque to minimalism, from late romanticism to the new spirituality of the 21st century. Music can capture the secret of life – a current of sounds. […] His music transports the idea of direct experience, an ability that has sunk into oblivion in these technocratic times. (Susanna Välimäki)
Olli Mustonen is something of a musical force of nature – a conductor, composer and pianist in equal measure, imbued with boundless energy and enthusiasm. (The Advertiser, 15 September 2015)
Born in Helsinki on 7 June 1967, Olli Mustonen took his first harpsichord lessons at the age of five and was taught to play the piano by Ralf Gothóni at the age of seven. At the age of six, he made his first composition attempts, and from 1975 studied composition with Einoiuhani Rautavaara. Soon, Mustonen was much sought after, both as a conductor and as a concert pianist (studies with Eero Heinonen).
Since 1989, Mustonen has been playing an active role in the musical scene of his home country; first, he became artistic director of the Korsholm Music Festival and from 1990-1992 of the Turku Music Festival as well. He is co-founder and director of the Helsinki Festival Orchestra, and since 2003 has been conducting the chamber orchestra Tapiola Sinfonietta.
As a pianist, Mustonen has given concerts with numerous major international orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orkest, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonics, and others. In addition, he maintains close working relations with renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez and Christoph Eschenbach. In 1999, he performed the world premiere of Rodion Shchedrin’s Piano Concerto No. 5, which is dedicated to him, with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. For his recording of 24 Preludes and Fugues by Dmitri Shostakovich and 25 Preludes by Charles-Valentin Alkan, Mustonen received both the Edison Award and the Gramophone Award in 1992. In 2019 Mustonen is the awardee of the Hindemith Prize of the City of Hanau in 2019.
Mustonen’s predilection for contrapunctally interwoven compositions and works of the 20th century which take up ideas from the 17th and 18th centuries (e.g. the Bach arrangements by Ferruccio Busoni and the cycles of preludes and fugues by Paul Hindemith or Shostakovich), is reflected in his own works as well. The concentration on instrumentation and rhythm as well as the use of genre names such as Gavotte, Toccata or Petite Suite are points in favour of this affinity. His Sonata for violoncello and piano illustrates how he establishes connections between baroque counterpoint and modernism, the latter distinctly apparent at the end of the piece. With numerous international performances, the piece is one of Mustonen's most frequently performed chamber works, alongside Nonetto I (1995) commissioned by the Wigmore Hall, Nonetto II (2000) and Piano Quintet (2014).
Mustonen's works attain their individuality through their fresh tonal language rooted in the sonority of the music of his come country. There are clear programmatic references in his work’s titles: e.g. Kaksi Metsätunnelmaa ("Two Forest Impressions"), Vanha kirkko Petäjävedellä ("The Old Church at Petäjävesi") or Kolme poikaa, kolme puuta ("Three Trees, Three Sons").
In 2011, Mustonen began to explore the symphonic tradition. His first contribution to this genre was Sinfonia 1 for baritone and orchestra which was premiered in Tampere by the Tampere Filharmonia under the baton of the composer. Subsequent performances took place in Helsinki, Russia, Germany, and Australia. The text is based on a famous Finish poem by Eino Leino. Also for his Sinfonia 2 with the subtitle "Johannes Angelos", Mustonen was inspired by literature: The novel "The Dark Angel" by Mika Waltari is not set to music, for the symphony is purely orchestral, but provides the subtle program as found in symphonic poems. This work has been premiered in 2014 by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and Olli Mustonen conducting.His Sinfonia 3 "Taivaanvalot" (Heavenly lights) for tenor and orchestra (2020) is based on the original chamber music version for tenor, violoncello and piano (2017). In this work, Mustonen sets text fragments from the Kalevala, a collection of heroic Finnish poems by Elias Lönnrot (1802-1884), to music.
While it is the pianist who is to the fore in the concert halls throughout the world, it is the conducting and composing activities of Mustonen from Hausjärvi (Finland) which are becoming of growing interest to the public.
As a pianist and conductor, Olli Mustonen is represented by James Brown Management.
Worklist
Chronology
Born in Helsinki (FIN) on 7 June
Artistic director of the Korsholm Music Festival
World premiere of "Nonetto I" at the Wigmore Hall in London
Composer in Residence beim Metropolis Festival in Melbourne
World premiere of the "Taivaanvalot (Heavenly lights)" for tenor, cello and piano in Amsterdam
World premiere of "Sinfonia 3" in Turku (FIN)
Products
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in memoriam Pablo CasalsComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsInstrumentation: 4 cellosProduct number: ED 23612Out of stock€18.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Out of stock€21.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Erkyläläinen konserttoComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: small orchestra
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A collection of new pieces for pianoMedia Type: Sheet musicInstrumentation: pianoLanguage: EnglishProduct number: ED 21470In stock€10.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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for piano and 18 strings or string orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano, 18 solostrings or string orchestra
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Invention for violoncello soloComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: Cello Library
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: celloProduct number: CB 283Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
Paraphrase of the 3 movements from the Partita in E Major for Violin soloComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: The Virtuoso Piano Transcription Series, Vol. 8
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 9508Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
for violin, violoncello and pianoComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsInstrumentation: violin, cello and pianoProduct number: ED 23702Out of stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Sonata for PianoComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: Edition Schott
Jehkin Iivana
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 20190Product TypeIn stockAs low as €14.99Incl. Tax -
Sonata for GuitarProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €13.99Incl. Tax
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for orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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for pianoComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: E-score PDFEdition: Separate editionSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 21398 Q11162In stock€2.99Incl. Tax -
(Three Mysteries / Drei Mysterien)Composer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Orchestra
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(Three Trees, Three Sons)Composer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: speakers, flute, oboe, clarinet, piano, harp and guitarLanguage: Finnish, English
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for mezzo-soprano and guitarComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Performing scoreSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: mezzo-soprano and guitarProduct number: ED 22939Product TypeIn stockAs low as €17.99Incl. Tax -
per archiComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: strings
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per archi oppure orchestra d'archiComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 9 solo strings or string orchestra
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Composer BrochureIn stock€0.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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for violoncello solo and string orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Violoncello and String Orchestra
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for two violins, viola, violoncello and pianoComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Piano Quintet
Instrumentation: 2 violins, viola, cello and pianoProduct number: ED 22250Product TypeIn stockAs low as €54.99Incl. Tax -
for oboe, violin, viola and pianoComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: oboe, violin, viola and pianoProduct number: ED 21016Product TypeIn stockAs low as €26.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Tune bookInstrumentation: violinProduct number: F 6796Out of stock€16.50Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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(The Storyteller / Der Geschichtenerzähler)Composer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute and orchestra
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for cor anglais, guitar and string quintetComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: cor anglais, guitar, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bassProduct number: ED 23429Out of stock€119.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for piano and windsComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Piano Quintet
Instrumentation: flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon and pianoProduct number: ED 22475Product TypeIn stockAs low as €69.99Incl. Tax -
for stringsComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: 2 violins, 2 violas, cello and double bassProduct number: ED 23282Out of stock€119.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
for baritone and orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: baritone and orchestraLanguage: Finnish
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"Johannes Angelos"Composer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestra
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for tenor and orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor and orchestraLanguage: English
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for two violinsComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Violin Library
Sinuhe
Instrumentation: 2 violinsProduct number: VLB 175Product TypeIn stockAs low as €12.99Incl. Tax -
Sonata for solo fluteComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: Il Flauto traverso
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: fluteProduct number: FTR 214Product TypeIn stockAs low as €8.99Incl. Tax -
Sonata for OboeComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: Oboe Library
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: oboeProduct number: OBB 44Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
for violin orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin orchestra
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for violin and pianoComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partSeries: Edition Schott
Violin Library
Instrumentation: violin and pianoProduct number: VLB 178Product TypeIn stockAs low as €23.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partSeries: Cello Library
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: cello and pianoProduct number: CB 193Product TypeIn stockAs low as €24.99Incl. Tax -
for violin and orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violin and orchestra
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for violoncello and chamber orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: cello and chamber orchestra
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for guitarComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Separate editionSeries: Guitar Archive
Edition Schott
Instrumentation: guitarProduct number: GA 571Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
for harpsichord or pianoComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: harpsichord or pianoProduct number: ED 21355Product TypeIn stockAs low as €7.99Incl. Tax -
Composer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: string quartetProduct number: ED 22895Product TypeIn stockAs low as €77.99Incl. Tax -
4 songs for voice and pianoComposer: Olli MustonenSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: voice and pianoProduct number: ED 21216Product TypeIn stockAs low as €10.99Incl. Tax -
The Boreal Owl / Der RaufußkauzComposer: Olli MustonenEdition: Separate editionSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: voice and pianoProduct number: ED 22243Product TypeIn stockAs low as €7.99Incl. Tax -
arranged for flute (piccolo), oboe (cor anglais), clarinet and piano by Olli MustonenComposer: Rodion ShchedrinArranger: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: flute (piccolo), oboe (cor anglais), clarinet and pianoProduct number: ED 21291In stock€24.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
(In memoriam Lars Vogt)Composer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Separate editionInstrumentation: violinProduct number: VLB 235Out of stock€5.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping
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Composer: Olli MustonenEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: piano, string quartet and double bassProduct number: ED 9685Product TypeIn stockAs low as €32.99Incl. Tax -
Version for wind quintetComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Sheet musicEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: oboe, flute, clarinet, horn and bassoonProduct number: ED 23829Out of stock€29.00Incl. Tax, Excl. Shipping -
Composer: Olli MustonenEdition: Piano reduction with solo partsInstrumentation: 3 violins and chamber orchestraProduct number: VLB 114Product TypeIn stockAs low as €33.99Incl. Tax
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Version for flute, two violins and chamber orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: flute, 2 violins and chamber orchestra
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for three violins and chamber orchestraComposer: Olli MustonenMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 3 Violins and Chamber Orchestra