# Kimmo Hakola: Piano Concerto · Sinfonietta

> Kimmo Hakola: Piano Concerto · Sinfonietta – Henri Sigfridsson, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds. Ondine ODE 1127-2, CD, released January 2009.

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1127-2

- **Composer:** Kimmo Hakola
- **Work(s):** Piano Concerto · Sinfonietta
- **Performers:** Henri Sigfridsson, piano; Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra; John Storgårds, conductor
- **Label:** Ondine
- **Catalogue no.:** ODE 1127-2
- **Format:** CD
- **Release date:** 1 January 2009
- **EAN / UPC:** 0761195112724
- **Tracks:** 10, total 70:13
- **Genres:** Orchestral, Instrumental, Finnish contemporary

## Track listing

**Kimmo Hakola**

- *Piano Concerto (1996)*
1. I. Furioso (5:01)
2. II. Capricci (10:45)
3. III. Forza (1:59)
4. IV. Toccata (2:20)
5. V. Fuoco (4:57)
6. VI. Cadenza (4:46)
7. VII. Maestoso (11:49)
8. VIII. Triste (7:02)
9. IX. Lux (7:35)
10. Sinfonietta (1999) (13:59)

## About this recording

Unorthodox classical music at its best: Kimmo Hakola\

Finnish composer Kimmo Hakola was recently portrayed by The New York Times as, "possessed of a joyful, mischievous spirit." The article described his music as "mixing together shapely lyricism, atonality, quirky folkishness and an almost hedonistic approach to timbre and rhythm" - an ideal characterization of the monumental Piano Concerto, which is the main feature on this new CD release in celebration of Hakola's 50th birthday.

The 55-minute work is cast in no less than nine stirring movements, which combine scintillating virtuosity with powerful emotions and humor. With hints of jazz and folk music, in addition to parodist episodes of serial music, Hakola here produces unorthodox and accessible classical music at its best. Coupled with the Piano Concerto is the Sinfonietta for orchestra, a 15-minute work of relentless virtuoso energy.

The acclaimed young Finnish pianist Henri Sigfridsson is accompanied by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and chief conductor John Storgårds who have made award-winning recordings of contemporary music.

## Features

Booklet with liner notes in Finnish and English

## Press

Wie nur wenigen dürfte es Hakola hier gelungen sein, moderne Orientierungslosigkeit in ein kunstvolles, gestaltenreiches Maskenspiel zu übersetzen. (...) Henri Sigfridsson ist hier fast im Dauereinsatz, und seine enorme Technik kommt ihm bei dieser Mammutaufgabe sicher sehr zu Hlfe.

Frank Siebert, Fono Forum, Juni 2009

Hier wird zugleich mit Neugier und Selbstverständlichkeit musiziert: diese Kombination hat bei zeitgenössischer Musik immer den Charakter eines Glücksfalls.

Tobias Roth, Klassik.com, 21. Mai 2009

Henri Sigfridsson is exactly the kind of pianist for the Piano Concerto: a big, muscular technique with plenty of power; John Storgårds gets playing of like virtuosity from his Tampere musicians. A barnstormer of a CD.

Martin Anderson, Finnish Music Quarterly, 1/2009

Les musiciens de l'Orchestre de Tampere et John Storgårds s'engagent sans réserve et nous régalent d'un disque original et plaisant.

Stéphane Friédérich, Classica, Avril 2009

The Piano Concerto (...) is hugely enjoyable, and the solo is dashingly well played by Henri Sigfridsson. A very worthwhile disc.

Andrew Clements, The Guardian, March 6, 2009

This is seriously entertaining, but also entertainingly serious stuff.

Philip Clark, Piano International, March/April 2009

This recording will be hard to pass by when it's time to choose the best Finnish classical CD releases of 2009. The Tampere Philharmonic performs the music of Kimmo Hakola magnificently, and Henri Sigfridsson is phenomenal as soloist. (...) Hakola's piano concerto is an imaginative, entertaining and gripping piece.

Harri Hautala, Aamulehti, February 7, 2009

## Buy or stream

- [Buy](https://Ondine.lnk.to/ODE11272OW)

## Related pages

- [Kimmo Hakola (1958-)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/hakola-kimmo.md)
- [Henri Sigfridsson, piano](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/sigfridsson-henri.md)
- [Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/tampere-philharmonic-orchestra.md)

## Also recommended

- [Kimmo Hakola: Clarinet Concerto · Verdoyances crépuscules · Diamond Street](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1063-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet · Finnish RSO · Sakari Oramo, conductor (ODE 1063-2, 2005)
- [Kimmo Hakola: Clarinet Quintet · Loco · Capriole](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-960-2.md): Kari Kriikku, clarinet · Avanti! Quartet · Anssi Karttunen, cello (ODE 960-2, 2002)