Hong Kong Philharmonic Names Esa-Pekka Salonen as Composer-in-Residence

Five of Salonen's works will be performed in the 2025/26 Season, and he will conduct the Asian premiere of his Horn Concerto with Stefan Dohr as soloist

The Hong Kong Philharmonic announced that the Finnish composer and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen will serve as its Composer-in-Residence for the 2025/26 season. The appointment coincides with the inaugural season of conductor and fellow Finn Tarmo Peltokoski, who becomes the orchestra's Music Director Designate.

Five of Salonen's works feature on the orchestra's programs in the upcoming season, including Castor, Pollux, Gambit, and the Violin Concerto. Salonen himself will appear as conductor to lead the Asian premiere of his Horn Concerto, which will feature Stefan Dohr as soloist.

Salonen is presently Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony and Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.

He is also on the faculty of the Colburn School, where he leads the pre-professional Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen is co-founder of the annual Baltic Sea Festival, where he served as artistic director from 2003 to 2018.

In recent seasons, he has conducted the 2023 Nobel Prize Concert with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and won the prestigious Polar Music Prize. He has also been composer-in-residence of the Berlin Philharmonic, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and the Orchestre de Paris.

"It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s 52nd Season as I embark on this exciting journey with you as Music Director Designate," Peltokoski said. "This season, I will present three wonderful programs, all featuring the extraordinary compositions by my dear friend and mentor Esa-Pekka Salonen, who will be our Composer-in-Residence."

"Let’s explore the beauty of music together!"