Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Principal Conductor

In September 2021, Santtu-Matias Rouvali took up the baton as Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Back in 2017, when he was Principal Guest Conductor, we interviewed him at home on his farm outside Helsinki. Find out how he first made the move from playing percussion to conducting, and why he thinks Finnish conductors are 'a little bit... interesting.'
You can watch all our videos with Santtu here: • Conductor Santtu-Matia...

[@graemeroberts2935]

I love Santtu-Matias so much for his naturalness, honesty, good nature, and obvious talent. A great credit to the Philharmonia and Finland-and his parents.

[@philharmonia_orchestra]

Grazie!

[@ogredad55]

Dear Philharmonia Orchestra: I've never really followed or watched, in-depth, any conductor. Then I saw Santtu-Matias Rouvali, wow! He was so enthusiastic as he conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra, and they played Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring. I was enthralled by this smiling, energetic, gesticulating gentleman. I believe it was his boyish good looks that made me want to see what he would do next. I'm thinking, this guy is awfully young to be a conductor! So I started reading about him. And now I'm here! Thank you Santtu, for enjoying what you do with so much heart! That day you made me feel the power and the beauty in the music! God Bless you!

[@ianbusch]

So brilliant!

[@Kat-zj5kd]

He is the best

[@Richard-b5r9v]

It is often said that the timpanist is the 2nd Conductor

[@angelenergynyc]

😻 genius

[@arsnovaarsnova]

too much smoke and little rost, musicians that he is lucky to conduct can play same o better without conductor, that much they are good, humility and simplicity in thinking, expressing and in conducting are a lost art