Pictures from Finland
Kuvia Suomesta
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam, conductor
Photo album + CD
CD + photo album - released in celebration of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra\
Track listing
12 tracks · 69:37Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Uuno Klami
- 1 Suomenlinna, Op. 30 11:55
Selim Palmgren
- Kuvia Suomesta (Pictures from Finland), Op. 24
- 2 I. Kevätunelmia (Spring Dreams) 7:15
- 3 II. Rekiretki (Sleigh Ride) 2:18
Leevi Madetoja
- Pohjalaisia-sarjasta (The Ostrobothnians suite), Op. 52
- 4 II. Vangin laulu (The Prisoner's Song) 3:52
Robert Kajanus
- 5 Overtura sinfonica 9:12
Oskar Merikanto
- 6 Valse lente (arr. Nils-Eric Fougstedt) 3:31
Armas Järnefelt
- 7 Preludi 2:39
Toivo Kuula
- 8 Häämarssi (Wedding March) (arr. Eero Kosonen) 6:01
Taneli Kuusisto
- 9 Suomalainen rukous (Finnish Prayer), Op. 27/2 2:36
Aarre Merikanto
- 10 Intrada 5:41
Jean Sibelius
- 11 Valse triste, Op. 44/1 5:41
- 12 Kevätlaulu (Spring Song), Op. 16 8:56
About this recording
This CD + photo album product features a fine collection of 12 Finnish orchestral gems (including Valse triste by Sibelius, Wedding March by Toivo Kuula and Valse lente by Oskar Merikanto), newly recorded under the direction of chief conductor Leif Segerstam. The booklet includes 18 carefully chosen colour photographs of typical Finnish landscapes, which illustrate the inspiration which the featured composers draw from their relationship with Finnish nature.
This digipak album was released in 2007 in celebration of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra's 125th anniversary. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1882 and remains the oldest professional symphony orchestra in the Nordic countries. It gave the first performances of almost all the symphonic works by Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) with the composer himself conducting.
Features
Digipak with full colour booklet, containing liner notes in English and Finnish and numerous illustrations
Press
A splendid choice as a business gift: a collection of early 20th-century Finnish national romantic orchestral music (...) gorgeous illustrations add to a fine CD product.
Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti, March 7, 2008
A successful album, which forms an ideal present for others or yourself. You could not imagine a better visiting card for Finland!
Sixtus König, klassik-heute.com, December 2007, 10 • 10 • 10
The artists
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the first professional symphony orchestra to be founded in the Nordic countries (1882), has grown from a band of 36 players to an orchestra of 102 regular members.
Leif Segerstam
Leif Segerstam (1944-2024) received diplomas from the Sibelius Academy in violin and conducting. He won the Maj Lind Piano Competition in 1962 and gave his first violin recital in 1963. He rounded off his studies at the Juilliard School in New York, where he was awarded a conducting diploma in 1964.
