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Ari Petteri Rasilainen (born in Helsinki, Finland, on February 18, 1959) is a distinguished Finnish conductor and violinist, celebrated for his versatile artistry, musical integrity, and collaborations with leading orchestras and soloists around the world. He currently serves as Professor of Conducting at the University of Music Würzburg in Germany.

 

Education & Early Career

Rasilainen studied conducting with Professor Jorma Panula and Arvid Jansons at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and violin with Alexander Labko in Berlin.

Before focusing on conducting, he was a violinist with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and later with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (1980–1986).
 

His international conducting career began in 1989, when he won second prize at the Nicolai Malko International Conducting Competition in Copenhagen — a milestone that marked the start of his distinguished international reputation.

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Career Highlights
 

Rasilainen has held numerous prominent conducting positions, including:
 

• Chief Conductor, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz (2016–2021)

• General Music Director & Artistic Director, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ludwigshafen (2002–2009)

• Permanent Guest Conductor, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Denmark (from 2002)

• Chief Conductor, Pori Sinfonietta (1994–2004)

• Chief Conductor, Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra (1994–1998)

• Principal Conductor, Norwegian Radio Orchestra (1994–2002)

• Principal Guest Conductor, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (1989–1994)

• Principal Conductor, Lappeenranta City Orchestra (1985–1989)
   

He has also conducted the German Bundesjugendorchester, South West German Philharmonic in Konstanz, and collaborated regularly with major orchestras across Europe and beyond.

 

International Engagements
 

Rasilainen frequently appears with leading orchestras across Scandinavia, Central Europe, and the Mediterranean, including:
 

• Chief Conductor, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz (2016–2021)

• General Music Director & Artistic Director, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Ludwigshafen (2002–2009)

• Permanent Guest Conductor, Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Denmark (from 2002)

• Chief Conductor, Pori Sinfonietta (1994–2004)

• Chief Conductor, Jyväskylä Symphony Orchestra (1994–1998)

• Principal Conductor, Norwegian Radio Orchestra (1994–2002)

• Principal Guest Conductor, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra (1989–1994)

• Principal Conductor, Lappeenranta City Orchestra (1985–1989)
   

Opera
 

Rasilainen’s operatic work spans both the classic and contemporary repertoire. He has conducted productions such as Lohengrin (Wagner), The Magic Flute (Mozart), Tosca (Puccini), Nabucco (Verdi), The Barber of Seville (Rossini), and The Flying Dutchman (Wagner).
He made his Savonlinna Opera Festival debut in 2005 with Aulis Sallinen’s The Horseman, later performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. His opera credits also include Eugene Onegin (Tchaikovsky) in Montpellier and numerous productions in Bremen, Chemnitz, and St. Gallen.

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Collaborations & Recordings
 

Throughout his career, Rasilainen has collaborated with many of the world’s foremost soloists, including Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Hilary Hahn, Nigel Kennedy, Igor Levit, Viktoria Mullova, Arcadi Volodos, Christian Tetzlaff, and Finnish artists Matti Salminen and Olli Mustonen.

He has recorded extensively for labels such as Sony, Finlandia, Apex, CPO, and Naxos. His 70+ recordings showcase a vast repertoire, including the complete symphonies of Kurt Atterberg and major works by Aulis Sallinen. Recent releases include Siegmund von Hausegger’s Nature Symphony with the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne.

 

Academic Role
 

Since 2011, Ari Rasilainen has been Professor of Conducting at the University of Music Würzburg, where he continues to mentor the next generation of conductors while maintaining an active international conducting career.