Aulis Sallinen

Short bio Aulis Sallinen

Birthday: 1935 in Salmi, Finland

Genre: Classical,Avant-Garde

Period: 20th Century, 21st Century, Contemporary

Full biography Aulis Sallinen

Aulis Sallinen is a Finnish composer who was born on April 9, 1935, in Salmi, Finland. He is best known for his operas, which are hailed for their unique blend of Finnish folk traditions, modern classical music, and political commentary.

Sallinen began his musical career as a viola player, but he quickly turned his attention to composition. He studied composition in Helsinki at the Sibelius Academy, where he was mentored by the legendary Finnish composer Joonas Kokkonen. Later, he also studied in Italy with Luigi Dallapiccola and in Germany with Gottfried von Einem.

Sallinen's compositions are known for their dramatic and melancholic qualities, with elements of Nordic folk tradition and political commentary, particularly from his experiences during the Cold War era. His works often express his concern for societal issues, ranging from economic injustice to environmental degradation. His composition style is known for its use of modernist techniques, including 12-tone and serialist structures, but also incorporate traditional tonality.

One of Sallinen's most famous works is his opera, "The Red Line," which was premiered in 1978. This opera is based on the true story of a Finnish border guard who was sentenced to life in prison for allowing East German refugees to cross the Finnish-Soviet border, making a bold statement against the Soviet regime.

In 2009, Sallinen was awarded the title of Academician of the Arts of Finland, and he has received several other prestigious honors throughout his career. Today, he is widely recognized as one of Finland's greatest contemporary composers, and his works continue to be performed and lauded by music lovers around the world.

Compositions featuring Aulis Sallinen

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Piano Trio ("Les Visions Fugitives"), Op. 96	18:17 min	Chamber Music	2009
2	Chamber Music VIII, for cello & orchestra, Op. 94	20:03 min	Concerto	2008
3	Chamber Music VII, for woodwind quintet & string orchestra ("Cruselliana"), Op. 93	24:08 min	Orchestral	2007
4	Concerto for clarinet, viola & chamber orchestra, Op. 91	23:53 min	Concerto	2006
5	Sonata for cello & piano, Op. 86	23:12 min	Chamber Music	2004
6	Barabbas Dialogues, for soloists, speaker & ensemble, Op. 84	56:31 min	Vocal Music	2002
7	Symphony No. 8, Op. 81 ("Autumnal Fragments")	23:35 min	Symphony	2001
8	Chamber Music IV, for piano & strings ("Metamorphoses of Elegy for Sebastian Knight"), Op. 79	17:50 min	Chamber Music	2000
9	Chamber Music V, for accordion & strings ("Barabbas Variations"), Op. 80	21:43 min	Chamber Music	2000
10	Introduction and Tango Overture, for piano & string orchestra, Op. 74b	10:17 min	Chamber Music	1997
11	The Palace Rhapsody (Palatsirapsodia), for winds, percussion, harp & piano, Op. 72	16:41 min	Band Music	1997
12	From a Swan Song, for cello & piano, Op. 67	13:37 min	Chamber Music	1990
13	Sunrise Serenade, for 2 trumpets, piano & string orchestra, Op. 63	6:59 min	Orchestral	1989
14	Chamber Music III, for cello & string orchestra ("The Nocturnal Dances of Don Juanquixote"), Op. 58	19:58 min	Chamber Music	1985
15	Symphony No. 5, Op. 67 ("Washington Mosaics")	38:32 min	Symphony	1984
16	The King Goes Forth to France, opera in 3 acts ("Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan "), Op. 53	127:40 min	Opera	1983
17	String Quartet No. 5 ("Pieces of Mosaic"), Op. 54	23:52 min	Chamber Music	1983
18	The Iron Age Suite, Op 55	28:21 min	Choral	1983
19	Shadows, prelude for orchestra, Op. 52	9:27 min	Orchestral	1982
20	Some Aspects of Peltoniemi Hintrik's Funeral March, for string orchestra (from String Quartet No. 3)	13:11 min	Orchestral	1981
21	Symphony No. 4, Op. 49	23:50 min	Symphony	1979
22	Punainen Viiva (The Red Line), opera, Op. 46		Opera	1978
23	Concerto for cello, Op. 44	25:41 min	Concerto	1977
24	Chamber Music II, for alto flute &string orchestra, Op. 41	14:07 min	Orchestral	1976
25	Chamber Music I, Op. 38	12:25 min	Chamber Music	1975
26	Symphony No. 3, Op. 35	23:57 min	Symphony	1974
27	Ratsumies (The Horseman), opera		Opera	1973
28	Suita Grammaticale, for chorus & strings, Op. 28	15:35 min	Choral	1972
29	Symphony No. 1, Op. 24	15:13 min	Symphony	1971
30	String Quartet No. 4 ("Quiet Songs"), Op. 25	14:00 min	Chamber Music	1971
31	Chorali, for symphonic band	12:03 min	Band Music	1970
32	Chorali, for 32 winds, percussion, harp & celesta, Op. 22	10:42 min	Orchestral	1970
33	String Quartet No. 3 ("Some Aspects of Peltoniemi Hintrik's Funeral March"), Op. 19	12:48 min	Chamber Music	1969
34	Violin Concerto, Op. 18	17:43 min	Concerto	1968
35	Cadenza for violin solo, Op. 13	4:03 min	Chamber Music	1965
36	Quattro Per Quattro for flute, violin, cello & harpsichord, Op 12	17:30 min	Chamber Music	1964
37	Elegy for Sebastian Knight for cello solo, Op 10	5:16 min	Chamber Music	1964
38	Variations for orchestra, Op 8	11:09 min	Orchestral	1963
39	String Quartet No. 2 ("Canzona"), Op. 4	11:34 min	Chamber Music	1960
40	String Quartet No. 1, Op. 2	14:11 min	Chamber Music	1958
41	Symphony No. 7, Op. 71 ("The Dreams of Gandalf")	25:15 min	Symphony	-
42	Symphony No. 6, Op. 65 ("From a New Zealand Diary")	40:56 min	Symphony	-
43	Winter was Hard, for chorus & orchestra, Op 20	1:42 min	Choral	-
44	Chamber Music VI for string quartet & string orchestra ("3 Invitations au voyage"), Op. 88	24:45 min	Orchestral	-
45	The Beaufort Scale	6:00 min	Choral	-
46	Chaconne for organ	6:23 min	Keyboard	-
47	Canto et Ritornello, for violin	7:37 min	Chamber Music	-
48	Palatsi, opera, Op 68	116:23 min	Opera	-
49	Concerto for horn & orchestra, Op. 82 ("Compane ed Arie")	21:22 min	Concerto	-
50	Symphony No. 2, Op. 29 ("Dialogue for solo percussion & orchestra")	16:23 min	Orchestral	-
51	Dream Songs (4)	13:25 min	Vocal Music	-
52	Songs of Life and Death, Op 69	47:02 min	Vocal Music	-
53	Songs from the Sea	8:20 min	Vocal Music	-
54	Sonata for cello solo, Op 26	14:02 min	Chamber Music	-
55	Flute Concerto "Harlekini" Op. 70	21:45 min	Concerto	-
56	Kullervo, opera	156:58 min	Opera	-
57	Simple Simme and Homeless Hamme, for baritone voice & piano	4:44 min	Vocal Music	-
58	Mauermusik, for orchestra, Op. 7	9:47 min	Orchestral	-
59	Sakura	1:42 min	Vocal Music	-
60	A Solemn Overture (King Lear), Op. 75	12:00 min	Orchestral	-
61	Metamorfora	6:00 min	Chamber Music	-

Albums featuring Aulis Sallinen

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Albini, Britten, Carovani, Sallinen, Ligeti, Tammaro - Cosimo Carovani – Ad Antiqua (Music For Cello Solo)(CD, Album)	2020	Da Vinci Classics
2	Aulis Sallinen, Kalevi Kiviniemi, Oskar Merikanto, Jean Sibelius – Sallinen Organ Works(CD, Album)	2017	Fuga (2)
3	Aulis Sallinen, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Ville Matvejeff, Ralf Gothóni – Chamber Music I-VIII(2×CD, Album, Stereo)	2015	Ondine
4	Aulis Sallinen, Elina Vähälä ∙ Arto Noras ∙ Ralf Gothóni – Piano Trio Op. 96 ∙ Cello Sonata Op. 86 ∙ From A Swan Song Op. 67(CD, Stereo)	2014	cpo
5	Salmenhaara / Nordgren / Kangas / Sallinen - Marko Ylönen / Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra / Juha Kangas – Poema - Works For Cello And Strings(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album)	2014	Alba Records
6	Peter Eötvös, Carl Nielsen, Aulis Sallinen, Christoffer Sundqvist, Radion Sinfoniaorkesteri, Okko Kamu, Hannu Lintu – Levitation(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Stereo)	2013	Alba Records
7	Aulis Sallinen, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ari Rasilainen – Complete Symphonies • Concertos(5×CD, Compilation, Stereo)	2011	cpo
8	Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra / Paavo Järvi — Tüür \| Sallinen \| Salonen \| Pärt \| Sumera – Baltic Portraits(CD, Compilation)	2011	Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Media
9	Aulis Sallinen / Jan-Erik Gustafsson (2), Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen – Symphony 6 - Cello Concerto(CD, Album)	2009	cpo
10	Aulis Sallinen / Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ari Rasilainen – Symphonies 3 & 5(CD, Album)	2008	cpo
11	Aulis Sallinen, Various – The King Goes Forth To France, Opera In Three Acts(2×CD, Album)	2006	Ondine
12	Aulis Sallinen ・ Arto Noras ・ Mika Väyrynen (2) ・ Virtuosi Di Kuhmo ・ Ralf Gothóni – Chamber Music III, IV, V(CD, Album)	2006	cpo
13	Symphonies 2 & 4(CD, )	2005	cpo
14	Barabbas Dialogues(CD, Album)	2005	cpo
15	Aulis Sallinen / Jaakko Kuusisto, Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ari Rasilainen – Symphony 8, Violin Concerto(CD, Album)	2005	cpo
16	Sallinen - Aho - Rautavaara - Kantelinen / Kaartin Soittokunta = The Guards' Band – Ghosts(CD, Album)	2003	Alba Records
17	Aulis Sallinen - Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ari Rasilainen – Symphonies 1 & 7(CD, Album)	2003	cpo
18	Sallinen, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Jouko Harjanne, Aki Välimäki, Avanti Chamber Orchestra, Finlandia Sinfonietta, Arto Noras – Shadows / Sunrise Serenade(2×CD, Compilation)	2000	Finlandia Records
19	Aulis Sallinen / Tōru Takemitsu / Krzysztof Penderecki - Petri Alanko (2), Tapiola Sinfonietta, Okko Kamu – 20th Century Music For Flute And Orchestra	1999	Naxos
20	Sallinen, Jaakko Kuusisto, Mats Rondin, Saara Hakkila, Ilkka Paananen – Complete Works For Violin, Cello, Double Bass And Piano(CD, Album)	1998	Naxos
21	Heiniö, Sallinen, Hämeenniemi – Sigyn(CD, Album)	1996	Fifty-Fifty
22	Palatsi = The Palace	1996	Classica (4)
23	Aulis Sallinen(2×CD, Compilation, Reissue)	1996	Finlandia Records
24	Sallinen, Mats Rondin, Hanna Juutilainen, Finnish Chamber Orchestra, Okko Kamu – Complete Works For String Orchestra	1996	Naxos
25	Aulis Sallinen - Jorma Hynninen, Opera Festival Chorus, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu – Songs Of Life And Death / The Iron Age Suite(CD, Album)	1995	Ondine
26	Aulis Sallinen, Jean Sibelius Quartet – String Quartets 1 - 5(CD, Album)	1995	Ondine
27	Aulis Sallinen - Malmö Symphony Orchestra / James DePreist – Symphonies No. 4 & No. 5 • Shadows(CD, Stereo)	1994	BIS
28	Finnish National Opera Orchestra & Chorus, Ulf Söderblom, Aulis Sallinen – Kullervo(3×CD, Album)	1992	Ondine
29	Kodály, Crumb, Hindemith, Sallinen / Frans Helmerson – The Solitary Cello (Cello Music From The Twentieth Century)(CD, Compilation, Stereo)	1992	BIS
30	Aulis Sallinen / Gert Mortensen, Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Okko Kamu – Sunrise Serenade - Symphony No.2 - Symphony No.6 ('From A New Zealand Diary')(CD, Album)	1992	BIS
31	Variations For Orchestra / Violin Concerto / Some Aspects Of Peltoniemi Hintrik's Funeral March / The Nocturnal Dances Of Don Juanquixote	1992	BIS
32	Sallinen / Sibelius, Fresk Quartet – String Quartets(CD, )	1991	Bluebell Of Sweden
33	Aulis Sallinen(CD, Compilation)	1991	Finlandia Records
34	Aulis Sallinen, Arto Noras, Finlandia Sinfonietta, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu – Washington Mosaics (Chamber Music III • Sonata For Solo Cello)(CD, Album)	1989	Finlandia Records
35	Sallinen, Sibelius, Pohjola, Saint-Saëns, Kyllönen, Kern, Wessman, Handel – Crescendo: Suomalaisia Sävellyksiä / Eläinten Karnevaali(2×LP, Compilation)	1989	Espoon Musiikkiopisto
36	Karita Mattila, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Savonlinna Opera Festival Choir, Ulf Söderblom – Paul Hindemith: Das Marienleben, Op 27 / Aulis Sallinen: Four Dream Songs / Aarre Merikanto: Genesis	1988	Finlandia Records
37	Sibelius, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leif Segerstam, Aulis Sallinen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste – The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra On Tour(LP, Album, Stereo)	1986	Yleisradio
38	Aulis Sallinen, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu, Arto Noras – Shadows / Symphony No. 4 / Cello Concerto	1985	Finlandia Records
39	Jean Sibelius / Aulis Sallinen, Finlandia Sinfonietta, Okko Kamu – Pelléas Et Mélisande / Chamber Music I / Some Aspects Of Peltoniemi Hintrik's Funeral March(LP, Album)	1984	Finlandia Records
40	Aulis Sallinen - Okko Kamu, Jorma Hynninen, Taru Valjakka, Usko Viitanen – The Red Line	1980	Finlandia Records
41	Ratsumies = Ryttaren = Der Reitersmann = The Horseman	1977	Finnlevy
42	Aulis Sallinen, Finnish Radio Symph. Orch., Okko Kamu / Helsinki Philh. Orch., Paavo Berglund – Sinfonia • Chorali • Sinfonia III	1976	BIS
43	Chamber Music II For Alto Flute And String Orchestra / String Quartet No. 3 / Quattro Per Quattro / Elegy For Sebastian Knight	1976	BIS
44	Duo Pohjola, Ligeti / A. Merikanto / Sallinen / Meriläinen / Segerstam – Duo Pohjola(LP, Stereo)	1975	BIS
45	Jean Sibelius, Toivo Kuula, Aulis Sallinen, Taru Valjakka, Ralf Gothóni – Taru Valjakka, Ralf Gothóni(LP, Album)	1973	Finnlevy
46	Finlandia Quartet / Ralf Gothóni / Joonas Kokkonen / Aulis Sallinen – Piano Quintet 1953 / String Quartet No 3(LP, Stereo)	1971	EMI
47	Sibelius, Sallinen, Paavo Berglund Conducting The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 4 / Mauermusik	1970	Decca
48	The Palace(DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Stereo)	-	Arthaus Musik