MatthewHalls

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  • Conductor
Matthew Halls
Matthew Halls

About Matthew

Chief Conductor & Artistic Director: Tampere Philharmonic

Matthew Halls has been Chief Conductor of Finland’s Tampere Philharmonic since August 2023.

In addition to concerts in Tampere, the 2026/27 season sees Matthew return to Dallas Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Wiener Symphoniker, Iceland Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, SWR Symphonieorchester and Stavanger Symphony. He also conducts three projects with Belgian National Orchestra, including their season opening and closing concerts.

Highlights of the last three seasons have included returns to Finnish Radio Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, Tapiola Sinfonetta and Tonkünstler-Orchester at Vienna’s Musikverein, alongside debuts with Rotterdam Philharmonic and Lahti Symphony. Matthew also works extensively in North America, conducting the Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Houston Symphony, Los Anglese Chamber Orchestra and Toronto Symphony on numerous occasions.

Matthew has a background in period-performance and was one of the first to guest-conduct Nikolaus Harnoncourt's Concentus Musicus Wien. He is in particular demand for his interpretations of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, while his broad repertoire also includes Bach and Handel’s choral works, Sibelius' symphonies and twentieth century British music.

Matthew is based in Derbyshire, United Kingdom

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Contact

For availability and enquiries:

Antonio Orlando

Antonio Orlando

Associate Director

For contracts, logistics and press:

Hannah Reid Dick

Hannah Reid Dick

Assistant Artist Manager

Representation

Worldwide general management with Askonas Holt

Season Highlights

Sep 2026
Tampere-talo, Tampere
Sibelius: Kullervo Johanna Rusanen (soprano) Ville Rusanen (baritone) Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Oct 2026
Konserthus, Stavanger
Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela Saariaho: HUSH (Trumpet Concerto) Schubert: Symphony No. 9, "The Great" Verneri Pohjola (trumpet) Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
Nov 2026
Grieghallen, Bergen
Handel: Messiah Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Dec 2026
Konserthus, Gavle
Haydn: Symphony No. 101, "The Clock" Beethoven: Romances No. 1 & 2 Sibelius: Symphony No. 3 Alina Ibragimova (violin) Gävle Symphony Orchestra
Dec 2026
Harpa Hall, Reykjavik
Mozart: Ballet Music from Idomeneo Haydn: Cello Concerto No. 2 Martines: Overture in C major Mozart: Symphony No. 36, "Linz" Geirþrúður Anna Guðmundsdóttir (cello) Iceland Symphony Orchestra
Feb 2027
BOZAR, Brussels
Stravinsky: Symphonies of Wind Instruments Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite Stravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps Stravinsky: Chant funèbre Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms Stravinsky: Petrushka Belgian National Orchestra
Feb 2027
Konzerthaus, Vienna
Fauré: Pelléas et Mélisande Suite Berlioz: Les nuits d'été Franck: Symphony in D minor Benjamin Bernheim (tenor) Wiener Symphoniker
Mar 2027
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis Brahms: Schicksalslied Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Mar 2027
Symphony Hall, Atlanta
Mozart: Symphony No. 31, “Paris” Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 Mozart: Symphony No. 36, “Linz” Cédric Tiberghien (piano) Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Jun 2027
Stuttgart (various venues)
Mozart: Overture from La clemenza di Tito Mozart: Clarinet Concerto Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 Martin Fröst (clarinet) SWR Symphonieorchester

Video

Photos

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News

Press

  • Beethoven and Sibelius with the Tampere Philharmonic

    Tampere-talo, Tampere
    Sep 2023

    • Matthew Halls has already brought a new kind of lightness and sharpness to the sound of the orchestra in just a few weeks as Chief Conductor. At the same time, he demands from the orchestra a wide range of tone nuances and intensity, both at quieter and louder extremes - these traits served Beethoven's music ideally. The interpretation of En Saga had a suitable proportion of fullness and finished details. The arc of the drama was shaped by Halls as naturally as a month ago with Sibelius' Fifth. The mysteriously soaring main theme went through all the emotional states before falling into a breathless silence.

  • Season Opening Concert with Tampere Philharmonic

    Tampere-talo, Tampere
    Aug 2023

    • The concert culminated in a powerful performance of Jean Sibelius' Fifth Symphony - from memory without the safety net of the score. Halls got his new orchestra to play Sibelius so convincingly that Tampere has not its equal for quite some years. He paid particular attention to the inner details, such as the accompanying patterns of the double basses, as well as shaping the big moments. In the finale, the swan theme took off wonderfully and bravely rose to the inexorable conclusion. The concert also featured the Air des Espagnols from Jean-Baptiste Lully's Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme as an encore. Through his own arrangement, Halls showed his expertise in baroque music, including a small performing role. He also demonstrated his versatility already at the packed pre-concert talk of the concert, not only talking about the works but also playing samples on the piano. All the ingredients are there for an exciting new partnership.

Discography