Okko Tapani Kamu, born on March 7, 1946, in Helsinki, Finland, was a conductor and violinist. He began studying violin at age two and entered the Academy Sibelius at six. By 20, he became the principal violinist of the Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera, where he also started conducting. Kamu's breakthrough came in 1969 when he won the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Competition in Berlin. He served as principal conductor for various orchestras, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (1972-1977), Oslo Philharmonic (1975-1979), and Helsinki Philharmonic (1981-1988). Kamu's discography includes over 100 recordings, notable for works by Franz Berwald and Aulis Sallinen. He received the Order of the Lion of Finland in 1999 and became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1994.
![Sallinen, A.: Kuningas Lahtee Ranskaan (The King Goes Forth To France) [Opera]](https://cdn-images.dzcdn.net/images/cover/13f64f8b46e55eddb40285c568e5d972/120x120-000000-80-0-0.jpg)
