Avanti!

Avanti! is a Finnish chamber orchestra, founded in 1983 by conductors Esa-Pekka Salonen, Olli Pohjola and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. The size of the orchestra varies between a string quartet and a symphony orchestra depending on the situation. Avanti! Orchestra plays music of all periods, but specializes in contemporary compositions. The orchestra's debut record was produced by Robert von Bahr and received YLE's Gramophone Prize (1985). Apart from classical music, Avanti! had performed in different genres, including a death metal symphony, performed in collaboration with the Finnish band Waltari and conductor Riku Niemi. The Artistic Director of Avanti! since November 1998 has been the Finnish clarinetist Kari Kriikku.