Ralf Georg Nils Gothóni (born 2 May 1946, Rauma) is a Finnish pianist and conductor. He is also active as a chamber musician, professor, composer, and author. Born in Rauma, Finland he made his orchestra debut at age 15. Besides his worldwide concert career he has made some 100 recordings with major labels. He often performs in a double role conducting from the keyboard.
Gothóni was the artistic director of the Savonlinna Opera Festival from 1984 to 1987. He created the Forbidden City Music Festival in Beijing in 1996 and the "Musical Bridge Egypt–Finland" in 2007. He was professor of chamber music at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin 1996–2000, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki 1992–2007, the Hochschule für Musik in Hamburg 1986–1996 and 2006–2012 at the Instituto International da Camara, Reina Sofia, Madrid. Gothóni has made a significant contribution to the education of young musicians through Savonlinna Music Academy where he has served as artistic director. He was principal conductor of the English Chamber Orchestra from 2000 to 2009. Since 2004, he has been the guest conductor of the Deutsche Kammerakademie. In 2008 he was one of the jury members in the Sviatoslav Richter International Piano Competition [2] and in 2012 in the Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition.[3]
In the United States, Gothóni was music director of the Northwest Chamber Orchestra (Seattle) from 2002 until 2006. His initial appearance with the orchestra in 2001 was highly acclaimed and led to his appointment in Seattle.[4] In 2006 he resigned in the context of financial pressures on the orchestra.[5] The orchestra was later dissolved.[6]
^Haapakoski, Martti; Heino, Anni; Huttunen, Matti; Lampila, Hannu-Ilari; Maasalo, Katri, eds. (2002). Suomalaisen musiikin historia: Esittävä säveltaide (in Finnish). Helsinki: WSOY. pp. 40–43. ISBN951-0-23564-4.
