Paavo Heininen

Paavo Heininen (born 13 January 1938 in Helsinki) is a Finnish composer and pianist. He studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he was taught composition by Aarre Merikanto, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Einar Englund, and Joonas Kokkonen. He continued his studies in Cologne and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

Heininen is one of the most important Finnish modernist composers. His works can be roughly divided into two periods: dodecaphonic (c. 1957–1975) and postserialist (from 1976 onwards).

Paavo Heininen has taught composition at the Sibelius Academy. His pupils include Magnus Lindberg and Kaija Saariaho.

Heininen's main works include five symphonies, four piano concertos, a concerto for alto saxophone and orchestra, a violin concerto, a cello concerto, "Adagio" ("a concerto for an orchestra in the form of variations"), "Poesia squillante ed incandescente", a string quintet, "...tyttöjen kävely ruusulehdossa..." for string orchestra, and the operas "The Knife" (1985–1988) and "The Damask Drum" (1981–1983).