It seems that the conductors are having a busy autumn here in Finland! Today's news tells that Jan Söderblom, who has led the Lappeenranta Orchestra since 2000, is resigning as a protest to the lack of interest from the governors of the city towards their orchestra! The orchestra, which is only 21 members strong, needs first of all more string players, but the mayor of Lappeenranta says they cannot support a bigger orchestra.

I have personal experience of this orchestra, having conducted it in two concerts this year. We prepared a very demanding program in co-operation with St Michel Strings, and I must say that the orchestra (or, better to say, the orchestras...) worked wonderfully and with great attitude and enthusiasm. Even during this short visit I heard and saw a lot of potential there. I must agree with Söderblom, that the musicians deserve better support and they should get the extra strings in one way or another. Now their numbers are just enough to perform "authentic Haydn", not much more!

ADDITION October 18th - I found an article in the local newspaper already speculating about Söderblom's successor. Just for your interest, the names mentioned were Tibor Boganyi, Shuntaro Sato, Dmitri Slobodeniuk, Hannu Koivula, Hannu Lintu, Atso Almila, Esa Heikkilä and Jani Telaranta.

P.S. It is interesting how sensitive musicians are when it comes to reporting orchestra news. Last week on a certain discussion forum I was critiziced by an anonymous Helsinki Philharmonic musician of being bitter, when I had mentioned in this blog that seeing the same names over and over again seems a little dull! It maybe was not clear what I meant - I never said that I should be the next chief conductor of Helsinki Philharmonic! What I meant is that the world is full of interesting conductors who are not Finnish! Why not bring some new blood in the play? The nationality does not matter - only quality!