Ossi Runne who conducted for Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest twenty two times has died at the age of 93.
Conductor, composer and producer Ossi Runne has died at the age of 93, he is best known for having conducted twenty two Finnish entries at the Eurovision Song Contest. He conducted Finland’s sixth entry in 1966 “Playboy” which he had also composed.
He would take to the Eurovision stage for the last time in 1989 as conductor, but would return in 1990 as the Finnish commentator for the contest in Zagreb, Croatia. You can watch the last Finnish performance he conducted ‘La dolce vita’ below:
The Eurovoix team would like to express our condolences to Ossi’s family and friends at this difficult time.
Image Source: YLE
Finland first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961, they debuted alongside Spain and Yugoslavia. Finland has finished last in the contest on 10 occasions and has received ‘nul points’ three times. It wasn’t until 2006 that Finland won the Eurovision Song Contest. Lordi represented the country in Athens with the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah” scoring 292 points, a record total at the time.
