Bittersweet symphony: Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä talks music, and motorbikes

He has been the music director of the Minnesota Orchestra for over a decade. His recent and upcoming performances include his return to the Chicago and San Francisco symphony orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

He regularly conducts the London Symphony and London Philharmonic orchestras, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Wiener Symphoniker and Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and has developed strong relationships with the Helsinki Philharmonic, New World Symphony and the Mostly Mozart Festival, New York.

Osmo Vänskä, 63, Finnish conductor, clarinetist and composer is recognised for his compelling interpretations of repertoire from all ages, passionately conveying the authentic message of the composer’s score. In one of his earlier interviews, he has stated that he took this as his ‘first duty and responsibility — to be loyal to the composer; to do things as the composer intended them to be’. He said that what he found fascinating about music was that ‘there can be so many different interpretations of the music while still following the composer’s score’.

A distinguished recording artist, primarily for the BIS label, his album with the Minnesota Orchestra of Sibelius’ Symphonies Nos 1 and 4 won a Grammy award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2014, following the nomination of Symphonies Nos 2 and 5 the year before.

Vänskä is the recipient of a Royal Philharmonic Society Award, the Finlandia Foundation’s Arts and Letters award, and the 2010 Ditson Award from Columbia University. He holds honorary doctorates from the universities of Glasgow and Minnesota and was named Musical America’s 2005 Conductor of the Year. In 2013, he received the Annual Award from the German Record Critics’ Award Association for his involvement in BIS’ recordings of the complete works by Jean Sibelius.

Before his first performance in Mumbai on May 4-5 with the Orchestre de la Sussie Romande ensemble, Vänskä takes some time off to talk about this first visit to India, his home in Minneapolis and his love for his YAMAHA V Star. Excerpts…

What made you choose India as your destination for a concert?

This is part of the Tour of L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. They decided to play in India and China. I am really happy to have a chance to make music with them in India too.

Are there any special places in India that have fascinated you over the years and ones that you look forward to visiting?

I would love to visit India and spend some free time here. There are many interesting places I would love to see, including the Taj Mahal! This concert tour is going to be my very first visit to India. The schedule is too busy to see almost anything but I really wish to come back in the near future.

Setting up home in a restored 19th century flour mill in Minneapolis seems to reflect your love for the vintage. What made you set up home in one of these old buildings?

I really like to know that there is a good amount of history around me. It’s located in downtown Minneapolis and it’s also by the Missisippi River. I just love that area!

You led the Minnesota Orchestra in a historic first visit by a major US orchestra to Cuba. Music does bind people. Did you experience the same in the audience response in Cuba?

Oh absolutely! We had two great concerts in Havanna and the way that the audience was living through the music with us was amazing. They welcomed us with open arms.

Each country across the world has its own music, especially classical. The people identify and understand the same. When you play Beethoven or Sibelius, say in India, do you think the audience here would relate to it?

There is no doubt about that because music is the only international language and the best composers like Beethoven, Sibelius, Brahms etc. have written the best music ever. Music does communicate all around the world. Am sure the audience here shall relate to it.

Is there a genre of music that you as a music director of a renowned orchestra has not yet attempted but would like to?

We have to work hard to be constantly more connected to the younger generations, to people who are using a lot of time with computers, new technology etc.

What, apart from music, holds your interest?

Food and wine, exercise, jazz and riding my motorcycle.

What got you interested in motorcycles? Where all do you ride?

My YAMAHA V Star is my passion.

I got interested in motorbiking a long time ago. That is a world in which nobody knows me and I enjoy the feeling just to ride out alone and at very fast speed. Of course I keep a focus on safety as well, but I like to push the limits of how fast it could be. I enjoy the power of a motorbike.

I love riding in Minneapolis, along the Mississippi River.

About Orchestre de la Sussie Romande:

Orchestre de la Sussie Romande is a globally renowned western classical orchestra set to perform in India for the first time with its 112 member team and the Grammy winning conductor Ozmo Vanska along with solo violinist Renaud Capucon.

The orchestra group that started in 1918 specialises in French and Swiss classical orchestra.

They give subscription concerts in Geneva and Lausanne, the City of Geneva symphony concerts, the annual UN Day concert, as well as opera performances at the Grand Théâtre of Geneva.

The OSR is a partner of Pro Helvetia until 2017 for the project “Oeuvres suisses”. They have made legendary recordings for Decca (over 100 discs) and have also recorded for around a dozen other labels and won major awards.