Uuno Klami
Northern Lights
Cheremissian Fantasy · Kalevala Suite
Samuli Peltonen, cello
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor
Three masterpieces by one of the most cosmopolitan Finnish composers
Track listing
8 tracks · 65:01Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Uuno Klami
- 1 Northern Lights, Op. 38 (1946) 18:49
- Cheremissian Fantasy for cello and orchestra, Op. 19 (1931) 13:27
- 2 I. Lento, molto tranquillo 6:59
- 3 II. Presto, con bravura 6:28
- Kalevala Suite, Op. 23 (1943) 32:56
- 4 I. The Creation of the Earth 7:16
- 5 II. The Sprout of Spring 5:09
- 6 III. Terhenniemi 7:06
- 7 IV. Cradle Song for Lemminkäinen 5:49
- 8 V. The Forging of the Sampo 7:25
About this recording
This CD pays tribute to Uuno Klami, one of the most successful and cosmopolitan Finnish composers; his popularity in Finland equals that of Jean Sibelius and Einojuhani Rautavaara and still awaits major discovery beyond the national borders.
This recording features his monumental masterpiece Kalevala Suite for large orchestra, which became a true landmark in Finnish music history and remains his best-known work and a real orchestral showpiece. Also included is the orchestral fantasy Northern Lights, which Klami himself once called his best composition; this is the work's first commercial recording. The Cheremissian Fantasy for cello and orchestra has raised comparisons with Stravinsky's Le Sacre. It features acclaimed young Finnish cellist Samuli Peltonen as soloist.
Chief conductor John Storgårds leads the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, which has a rich history of collaborating with Klami and of performing his works.
Features
Booklet with liner notes in English and Finnish
Press
Il est évident qu'Uuno Klami appartient à part entière à la grande famille des compositeurs de talent même si l'on peut se dispenser pour le décrire du qualificatif de génial. Il n'est que d'écouter cet enregistrement particulièrement réussi pour s'en convaincre aisément. Les qualités de l'Orchestre philharmonique d'Helsinki, très bien captées par le label Ondine, trouvent toutes leurs capacités d'expression sous la direction d'un chef d'orchestre aussi expérimenté que passionnant, John Storgårds.
Jean-Luc Caron, ResMusica.com, 29.7.2010, La Clef ResMusica.com
Farbenprächtig (...). John Storgårds leitet absolut idiomatisch klingende Interpretationen.
Thomas Schulz, Fono Forum, Juli 2010
Storgårds and the Helsinki Philharmonic turn in superb performances (...). Ondine's sound is of demonstration class (...). Thoroughly recommended.
Guy Rickards, Gramophone, June 2010
Zu loben ist (...) das sehr gute Klangbild, das Nachhören aller feinen Verästelungen der Partitur ist jederzeit möglich. Klamis Nordlichter entpuppen sich dank dieser Interpretation als höchst inspiriertes Orchestergemälde.
Michael Loos, Klassik.com, 17.6.2010
Die Interpretationen bleiben vor allem durch den aussergewöhnlichen Klang des Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra in Erinnerung, das wohl wie kein anderes Orchester die dunklen, erdigen Klänge der finnischen Musik zum Vibrieren bringen kann. Allein deswegen ist diese CD hörenswert. Aber John Storgårds (...) dringt auch tief in den Kern dieser vom Zweiten Weltkrieg beeinflussten Musik vor und malt Klangbilder von grösster emotionaler Kraft und transzendentaler Schönheit. Ein Must für alle Freunde nordischer Musik. Aber nicht nur.
Rémy Franck, Pizzicato, April 2010
Revontulet (1946) vakuuttaa tunnelmillaan ja jäntevyydellään. (...) Helsingin Kaupunginorkesterin esityksissä on loistokkuutta,lämpöä ja voimaa.
Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti, 5.3.2010
This new release is outstanding in every way. The Helsinki Philharmonic knows this music as well as anyone, and in any event is a first-class ensemble no matter what the repertoire. John Storgards leads vibrant interpretations, with Samuli Peltonen an impressive cello soloist. The sonics are superbly lifelike, with plenty of detail and a wide dynamic range. Highly recommended.
David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com, March 2010, Disc of the Month, Artistic Quality 10 / Sound Quality 10
The present disc needs to be heard by anyone who claims expertise or affection for Scandinavian music.
Rob Barnett, MusicWeb International, February 2010, Recording of the Month
Samuli Peltonen soittaa tseremissi fantasian virtuoosisesti ja herkästi. Kaupunginorkesteri yltyy Revontulissa ja Kalevala-sarjassa mahtavaan menoon John Storgårdsin ykkyttämänä. Orkesterin solistit ansaitsevat erikoiskiitoksen sooloistaan.
Ilkka Ylönen, Muusikko 2/2010
[Kalevala-sarja] on kuulunut Helsingin kaupunginorkesterin ulkomaankiertueiden vakio-ohjelmistoon, eikä ihme, että se Storgårdsin ja orkesterin väkevänä ja alkuvoimaisena tulkintana nousee levyn kohokohdaksi.
Risto Nordell, YLE Radio 1, 21.1.2010
The artists
Samuli Peltonen
Finnish cellist Samuli Peltonen (b. 1981) has pursued a rising career ever since he won the first International Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Competition in Kraków, Poland, in 2008. In 2006, he won the national Turku Cello Competition and joined the cello section of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, which has accompanied him in a number of soloist performances. Samuli Peltonen has appeared with major Finnish orchestras and given solo and chamber music recitals throughout Europe and in China. He is completing his studies with Arto Noras at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and has further taken part in masterclasses given by Fred Sherry, Torleif Thedéen, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Martti Rousi, Marko Ylönen, and Franz Helmersson. Samuli Peltonen plays a cello made by Giovanni Grancino in 1698, kindly lent to him by the Pohjola Bank Art Foundation.
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.
Also recommended
Uuno Klami
Symphony No. 1 · King Lear Overture
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen
Info & buy
Uuno Klami
Symphony No. 2 · Symphonie enfantine
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen, conductor
Info & buy