Meet the conductor: Markus Lehtinen

The human's strong relationship with nature is strongly present in the themes of this opera. Through different elements of opera, the universal catastrophe can be approached touchingly and also a social debate can be brought about.

Markus Lehtinen is an opera and ballet conductor with an extensive international career. Recognized as an expert of contemporary opera, he has held positions as the permanent conductor at the Royal Danish Theatre as well as the Finnish National Opera; he has also served as the Artistic Director of the Jyväskylä Sinfonia and Principal Guest Conductor of Malmö Symfoniorkester.

Lehtinen has conducted at many of Europe’s top opera houses, including a regular presence at Hamburg Staatsoper for nearly 30 years. Lehtinen has also conducted at the Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Royal Swedish Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Bolshoi Theatre, and many others. He has also appeared as an active artist in Finland’s Savonlinna Opera Festival for over 20 summers, and was named Artist of the Year in 2005.

An adept concert pianist and chamber musician, Lehtinen’s profile also includes concerts and coaching. Lehtinen studied composition under Aulis Sallinen and Einojuhani Rautavaara. He has served as a Professor of Opera Studies at the Sibelius Academy since 2004.