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Tauno Hannikainen

1896 – 1968

Finnish conductor

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About Tauno Hannikainen

Lived 1896 – 1968 (aged 72). Tauno Hannikainen was a Finnish conductor, cellist, composer and musician.

Tauno Heikki Hannikainen (February 26, 1896 – October 12, 1968) was a Finnish cellist and conductor.

Born in Jyväskylä, he was the son of the composer Pekka Juhani Hannikainen. The pianist Ilmari Hannikainen and the harpist Väinö Hannikainen were his brothers. He studied first as a cellist in Helsinki and abroad. From 1922 he became the second conductor in the Finnish Opera House in Helsinki. He conducted the music at Sibelius's funeral. He went to the USA in 1940, becoming music director of the Duluth Symphony Orchestra (1942–47). He was an assistant conductor (1947–49) and associate conductor (1949–50) with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and was principal conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. His grand-son Tuomas Olilla-Hainikainen (b.1965)is also a conductor.

Discography Jean Sibelius, Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 – Sinfonia of London (World Record Club) (1959) Jean Sibelius, Symphony No. 4 in A minor, Op. 63 - USSR S.S.O. (Melodiya) Jean Sibelius, Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82 – Sinfonia of London (World Record Club T 42) (1959) Jean Sibelius, Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 – Tossy Spivakovsky / London S.O. (Everest records/World Record Club T 94) Jean Sibelius, Violin Concerto in D minor – Oleg Kagan / Finnish R.S.O. (Live Class) Jean Sibelius, Karelia Suite, Op. 11 – Sinfonia of London (World Record Club T 42) Jean Sibelius, Lemminkäinen Legends (Four Legends from the Kalevala), Op. 22 – USSR R.S.O. (Melodiya) Jean Sibelius, Finlandia, Op. 26 – USSR R.S.O. (Melodiya) Jean Sibelius, Valse Triste, Op. 44, No. 1 – USSR R.S.O. (Mosoblsovnarhoz) Jean Sibelius, Tapiola, Op. 112 – London S.O. (Everest records/World Record Club T 94)(1960) Uuno Klami, "Terchenniemi" from Kalevala Suite Op. 23 – USSR R.S.O. (Mosoblsovnarhoz) Armas Järnefelt, Lullaby – USSR R.S.O. (Mosoblsovnarhoz)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Great Silver Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria; Commander First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Grand Knights of the Order of the Falcon‎; Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland
Also known as
Tauno Heikki Hannikainen

People in Tauno Hannikainen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Tauno Hannikainen's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tauno Hannikainen?

Finnish conductor

When was Tauno Hannikainen born?

Tauno Hannikainen was born on 26 February 1896 in Jyväskylä.

When did Tauno Hannikainen die?

Tauno Hannikainen died on 12 October 1968 in Helsinki.

What was Tauno Hannikainen's occupation?

Tauno Hannikainen was a conductor, cellist, composer and musician.

What nationality was Tauno Hannikainen?

Tauno Hannikainen was Finnish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tauno Hannikainen

· Wikidata: Q2916885

· DBpedia: Tauno Hannikainen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tauno Hannikainen. https://biography.guide/tauno-hannikainen/

MLA: "Tauno Hannikainen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tauno-hannikainen/.

Chicago: "Tauno Hannikainen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tauno-hannikainen/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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