Markku Luolajan-mikkola - Wennakoski, L.: Procris / Vuori, H.: From Day To Dream / Ham (CD)

Release Date: 01/01/08

Markku Luolajan-Mikkola has earned distinction as a recital soloist and chamber musician. He is a foundermember of the c

Markku Luolajan-Mikkola has earned distinction as a recital soloist and chamber musician. He is a foundermember of the celebrated Phantasm viol quartet. His engagements include appearances in Europe, America andAsia. The Finnish Broadcasting Company honoured him as Musical Act of the Year 2003 after his Gambaa!series of 50 recitals of French Baroque music with numerous different programmes. He has a special interestin contemporary music commissioned for the bass viol. His solo and ensemble recordings on the Alba, Avie,BIS, Simax, Channel Classics, Decca, GMN and Toccata Classics labels have received critical acclaim. On threeoccasions his recordings have been nominated for a Gramophone Award, two of which went on to win: HenryPurcell Fantasies in 1997 and Orlando Gibbons Consort for viols in 2004, both played by Phantasm. Hisrecordings have also been Editor's Choice (Gramophone), Record of the Month (Rondo magazine) and BestRecording of the Year (Helsingin Sanomat) and winners of a Diapason d'Or and Choc du Monde de la Musique.In the 1980s Markku Luolajan-Mikkola taught the cello and many of his former students are now active in variousfine European orchestras and chamber ensembles. He currently teaches at the Sibelius Academy. In 2002 hefounded the Lu-Mi strings company producing fine handmade Baroque instruments in Beijing.