11 Facts About Aulis Sallinen

Aulis Heikki Sallinen was born on 9 April 1935 and is a Finnish contemporary classical music composer.

Aulis Sallinen has had works commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, and has written seven operas, eight symphonies, concertos for violin, cello, flute, horn, and English horn, as well as several chamber works.

Aulis Sallinen won the Nordic Council Music Prize in 1978 for his opera Ratsumies.

Aulis Sallinen learned to play both jazz and classical music.

Aulis Sallinen spent much time during his teenage years improvising.

Aulis Sallinen attended the Sibelius Academy of Music and studied with a number of teachers such as Aarre Merikanto and Joonas Kokkonen.

Aulis Sallinen was appointed as the general manager of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1960 and held the position until 1969.

Aulis Sallinen was the chairman of the board of the Society of Finnish Composers between 1971 and 1974.

Aulis Sallinen's next opera, Kuningas lahtee Ranskaan, was a joint commission by Covent Garden and the Finnish National Opera.

Aulis Sallinen has received a number of commissions and has composed eight symphonies, including one using material from a proposed ballet based on The Lord of the Rings and containing two mediaeval Finnish tunes from the Piae Cantiones.

Aulis Sallinen has written seven operas and composed the title track of the Kronos Quartet's album Winter Was Hard.