Olli Mustonen, piano
Praised in the Sunday Times (London) as “a living dream of pianism, having broken through an expressive barrier that other players do not know exists,” Olli Mustonen holds a unique place as a multi-talented artist. As a pianist, he has challenged and fascinated audiences with his brilliant technique and startling originality. In his role as a conductor, he founded the Helsinki Festival Orchestra and is Artist in Association with the Tapiola Sinfonietta. As a composer he forms part of a very special line of musicians whose vision is expressed as vividly in the art of re-creative interpretation as it is in their own compositions.

Born in Helsinki, Olli Mustonen began his studies in piano, harpsichord and composition at the age of five. His first piano teacher was Ralf Gothoni. He also studied piano with Eero Heinonen and composition with Einojuhani Rautavaara.

In recital, Mr. Mustonen frequently plays in the world’s music capitals including Vienna, London, Berlin, Amsterdam, New York and Tokyo. As a soloist, he has worked with most of the world’s leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw; and with conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Daniel Barenboim, Paavo Berglund, Pierre Boulez, Myung Wung Chung, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jukka-Pekka Saraste.

Recently Mr. Mustonen led the Camerata Salzburg on tour to Eastern Europe and the Helsinki Festival Orchestra to China and was artist-in-residence at the Usedom Festival in Germany.  He made his Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra debut with Paavo Järvi in February 2005.

Olli Mustonen’s recording catalogue is broad-ranging and distinctive. His release on Decca of Preludes by Shostakovich and Alkan received the Edison Award and Gramophone Award for the Best Instrumental Recording. An Ondine Records artist since 2002, Mr. Mustonen’s discography includes piano music by Sibelius; music by Hindemith and Sibelius as player/conductor with the Helsinki Festival Orchestra; and a selection of piano music by Prokofiev.