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Perttu KivilaaksoFinnish cellist, plays in Apocalyptica.
Date of Birth: 11.05.1978
Country:  Finland |
Content:
Biography of Perttu Kivilaakso
Early Life and Musical EducationPerttu Kivilaakso is a Finnish cellist best known for his work with the band Apocalyptica. He started playing the cello at the age of 5, being taught by his father, Juhani, who was also a cellist. Perttu developed a passion for opera at a young age and regularly attended the Savonlinna Opera Festival. With his father playing in the opera orchestra, Perttu was exposed to both music and performances from an early age. He has an extensive collection of opera recordings, including many rare and hard-to-find ones. His favorite composer is Giuseppe Verdi, and his favorite opera is Il Trovatore.
Perttu studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and graduated with honors in 2000. In addition to the cello, he also plays the guitar and piano. One of his most significant achievements is securing the third place in the International Cello Competition, a feat no other Finn has accomplished in the competition's history.
Musical Career
Before his rock career, Perttu extensively toured Finland and abroad. Collaborating with various pianists, he visited numerous cities in Asia, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Russia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Israel, Japan, and Estonia. He performed as a soloist with a 90-piece orchestra and participated in several classical music festivals across Europe. Perttu's first solo performance took place at the age of 12 when he recorded for the Finnish Symphony Orchestra's radio broadcast.
Despite collaborating with Eicca Toppinen since 1995, Perttu officially joined Apocalyptica in late 1999. He had the opportunity to join the band much earlier when he was 16-17 years old, but the other members of Apocalyptica believed that his involvement in the group could negatively impact his blossoming career as a classical musician. Perttu holds a lifelong contract with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, a privilege reserved for only the most exceptional cases.
Additionally, Perttu has contributed cello parts to the video game Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne and composed several pieces for Apocalyptica, including "Conclusion," "Betrayal/Forgiveness," and "Farewell."
