Chief Conductor

Matthew Halls

The British conductor Matthew Halls began his three-year term as the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra in August 2023. He is the twelfth Chief Conductor of the orchestra, and the third foreign one. In his opening season 2023/24, he will conduct 12 concerts in Tampere, Finland, five of them during autumn.

Matthew says the exceptional musicianship, inspiring work ethic and energizing spirit of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra’s musicians have captivated him from the first minutes of rehearsals together. He has also said to be proud to start as a Chief Conductor in a city, where culture and the arts are truly valued.

Sir James MacMillan is the Tampere Philharmonic’s theme composer for the 2023/24 season. Under the baton of Mr. Halls, his works will be performed in Tampere for the first time, including the Finnish premiere of MacMillan’s Symphony No. 4. Matthew has also conducted the US premiere of the Fourth Symphony with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Matthew regularly guest-conducts the Cleveland Orchestra, Finnish Radio Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Wiener Symphoniker, Iceland Symphony, Toronto Symphony and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Recent highlights include Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony in Toronto, and his Chicago Symphony debut.

With a background in period-performance, Matthew was one of the first to guest-conduct Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s Concentus Musicus Wien. His discography includes Bach’s Harpsichord Concertos, the premiere recording of Handel’s Parnasso in Festa and Bach’s Easter and Ascension Oratorios.

Matthew Halls is represented by Askonas Holt.