Luther Opera composer |
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Kari Tikka holds diplomas in the oboe and orchestra conducting from the Sibelius Academy, and has pursued further studies abroad. He was engaged as a conductor at the Finnish National Opera from 1970 to 1972, and again from 1979. He has appeared as a guest conductor in several countries, and has been conductor of the Finnish National Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Opera of Stockholm and the Vivo Symphony Orchestra. Kari Tikka's extensive repertoire includes premieres of Finnish works for the stage such as the opera Elina by Jukka Linkola and the church opera Laurentius by Herman Rechberger, premierd in 1994. Kari Tikka is also a composer, having written an oratorio The Prodigal Son, an opera Frieda, orchestral and chamber music and more than one hundred songs for solo voice or for choir.