Sauli Zinovjev
Sauli Zinovjev is a Finnish composer of contemporary classical music whose work is defined by its emotional depth and immersive orchestral soundscapes. At the heart of Zinovjev’s music lies a commitment to expressivity—he writes the kind of music that first drew him to composition, rich in feeling and resonance.
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His compositions, described as “brisk, exciting and unpredictable” (The Wall Street Journal), have captivated audiences and performers alike, leading to collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouworkest, Munich Philharmonic, and Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra.
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Zinovjev’s recent works include the percussion concerto A Savage Beat, written for virtuoso percussionist Vivi Vassileva, and a Piano Concerto composed for acclaimed pianist Víkingur Ólafsson. Zinovjev's music has been championed by musicians such as Klaus Mäkelä, Hannu Lintu, Pekka Kuusisto, Hugo Ticciati, Gustavo Gimeno, Dalia Stasevska and Eivind Gulberg-Jenssen.
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The 2025–2026 concert season marks a significant milestone in Zinovjev’s career, with five major orchestral premieres. Highlights of the season include the premiere of Tarpeeton Pyyhitään Yli (Erasure), an orchestral song cycle set to the poetry of Mirkka Rekola, performed by soprano Helena Juntunen and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under Jukka-Pekka Saraste. His new orchestral work Fade Out, conducted by Hannu Lintu, opens Zinovjev’s two-year residency with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, which continues with the Finnish premiere of A Savage Beat.
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On 10th October 2025, Zinovjev’s second violin concerto World Bearer, written for Sibelius Violin Competition winner Nikita Boriso-Glebsky, will premiere with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Elim Chan. In early 2026, his first symphony Taste of Metal will be unveiled by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Hannu Lintu, and subsequently performed by the Oslo Philharmonic and Orchestre de Paris, conducted by Osmo Vänskä and Klaus Mäkelä respectively. The season culminates with the premiere of his Clarinet Concerto, written for Nicolas Baldeyrou and performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under François Leleux.
Zinovjev attended the Sibelius Academy and currently lives in Helsinki, Finland.
Sauli Zinovjev is a Finnish composer whose music, described as “brisk, exciting and unpredictable” (The Wall Street Journal), has been performed by orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic and Tokyo Metropolitan, in collaboration with musicians including Klaus Mäkelä, Hannu Lintu and Pekka Kuusisto.
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Zinovjev’s recent works include concertos for percussionist Vivi Vassileva and pianist Víkingur Ólafsson. The upcoming 2025–26 season features five major premieres, including an orchestral song cycle Erasure for Helena Juntunen, orchestral piece Fade Out and his second Violin Concerto ”World Bearer" for Nikita Boriso-Glebsky. His symphony Taste of Metal premieres in Helsinki, Oslo, and Paris, and the season concludes with a Clarinet Concerto for Nicolas Baldeyrou and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
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Zinovjev studied at the Sibelius Academy and lives in Helsinki.