Summer Thoughts · Einojuhani Rautavaara

Works for Violin and Piano

Pekka Kuusisto, violin
Paavali Jumppanen, piano

ODE 1177-2 · CD · May 2011

Buy / listen

Pekka Kuusisto and Paavali Jumppanen give an account of Rautavaara\

Track listing

22 tracks · 69:32

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Einojuhani Rautavaara

Lost Landscapes, for violin and piano (2005) 20:33
1 I. Tanglewood 5:58
2 II. Ascona 6:18
3 III. Rainergasse 11, Vienna 5:22
4 IV. West 23rd Street, NY 2:55
5 Summer Thoughts, for violin and piano (1972/2008) 4:28
6 April Lines, for violin and piano (1970/2006) 8:55
Notturno e danza, for violin and piano (1993) 7:18
7 I. Notturno 5:15
8 II. Danza 2:03
9 Variétude, for solo violin (1974) 6:01
10 Dithyrambos, for violin and piano (1970) 2:22
Pelimannit (The Fiddlers), Suite for piano based on traditional Finnish polska tunes for the fiddle (1952) 20:03
11 Fiddle tune: Närböläisten braa speli 1:50
12 I. Närböläisten braa speli (Närbö Vilagers in Fine Fettle) 1:30
13 Fiddle tune: Kopsin Jonas 2:38
14 II. Kopsin Jonas (Konas of Kopsi) 1:43
15 Fiddle tune: Jacob Könni 1:40
16 III. Jacob Könni 1:30
17 Fiddle tune: Klockar Samuel Dikström 2:24
18 IV. Klockar Samuel Dikström (Bell-ringer Samuel Dikström 1:06
19 Fiddle tune: Pirun polska 2:12
20 V. Pirun polska (Devil's Polka) 1:32
21 Fiddle tune: Hypyt 0:55
22 VI. Hypyt (Village Hop) 0:55

Product details

Format: CD
Release date: May 2011
Catalogue no.: ODE 1177-2
EAN / UPC: 0761195117729
Total duration: 69:32

Performers

Pekka Kuusisto, violin
Paavali Jumppanen, piano

This new recording features the complete works for violin and piano by Einojuhani Rautaavara (b. 1928), including many world premières.

The performers are two of the most fascinating talents from Finland who are know for a fresh approach: violinist Pekka Kuusisto ("the very embodiment of joyful music-making" - The Toronto Star), who has made numerous praised recordings for Ondine; and pianist Paavali Jumppanen ("immense power and an extraordinary range of colours" - The New York Times), who has recorded, for Deutsche Grammophon, Pierre Boulez's complete Piano Sonatas to oustanding press acclaim.

This CD also includes Rautavaara's opus 1, the piano suite Pelimannit (The Fiddlers), which is based on traditional polska tunes for the fiddle. Following Pekka Kuusisto's concept, this recording for the first time presents the original violin tunes, alternating with the respective movements from Rautavaara's piano suite.

Booklet with liner notes in English and Finnish

Hinreissende Musik (...).
Rémy Franck, Pizzicato, Dezember 2011

The Fiddlers, Rautavaara's vivacious folk-music piano suite, (is) delivered in lively and fully competitive fashion by Jumppanen (...). Top-notch sound.
Guy Rickards, Gramophone, October 2011

Ondine's Rautavaara recordings really are major additions to the contemporary music scene. This one is no exception.
David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com, September 2011, Artistic Quality 9 / Sound Quality 9

La beauté des grands espaces, le tempérament national s'expriment dans des couleurs automnales et une très grande soupless de l'écriture. Lost Landscapes constituera pur beaucoup un très belle découverte, interprétée avec beaucoup de finesse par l'excellent Kuusisto.
Bertrand Dermoncourt, Classica, septembre 2011

Kiinnostavinta antia levy tarjoaa Pelimannit-piano-sarjassa, jonka kutakin osaa Kuusisto alustaa alkuperäisellä Rinda-Nikkolan pelimannikappaleella. Kuusisto on sisäistänyt arkaaisen tyylin, koristelee taloudellisesti mutta käyttää jousta jatkuvasti vaihtelevin rytmisykkein. (...) Jumppanen esittää pianokappaleet erinomaisesti ja laittaa ne keskustelemaan alkuperäisten rinnalla.
Harri Kuusisaari, Rondo Classic, 9.2011

Experiencing the slightly earlier Dithyrambos, with its compelling dance rhythm and ripe sensuous harmonies, after Variétude is rather like tearing off a straightjacket and running round the garden naked. That it should have such an effect is partly a tribute to the spirited musicianship of Pekka Kuusisto and Paavali Jumppanen.
Stephen Johnson, BBC Music Magazine, September 2011, Performance / Recording

Im vorliegenden Falle darf Rautavaara mit sich (...) ebenso zufrieden sein wie mit den beiden jungen finnischen Interpreten, die sich bravourös, empfindsam und risikofreudig durch die zwischen 1952 und 2008 geschriebenen Kompositionen hindurchspielen. Als sehr angenehm wird dabei empfunden, dass sich keines der Stücke in epische Breiten verliert, sondern (...) überdies oft genug mit Temperamentsausbrüchen verblüfft, die im Gegensatz zum statischen Gewusel der Neuzeit tatsächlich zielgerichtet sind.
Rasmus van Rijn, Klassik Heute, 15.7.2011

Kuusisto soittaa hivelevän kauniisti ja rohkean persoonallisesti ja Jumppasen pianonsoitossa on tahtoa, taitoa ja tarkoitusta.
Ilkka Ylönen, Musiikko 6-7/2011

Pekka Kuusiston ja Paavali Jumppasen loistavissa esityksissä riittää sävyjä, intensiteettiä ja voimaa.
Lauri Kilpiö, Suomen Kuvalehti 23/2011

Pekka Kuusisto

Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is one of the most versatile and distinctive musicians working today. Always demonstrating his extraordinary individuality and imagination, he is unusually free and fluid in his approach and has been acclaimed for the spontaneity and freshness in his playing. Setting Pekka Kuusisto apart from most other violinists of his generation is his desire and ability to improvise, and his love of playing many different styles of music, channeling the same intensity into each genre.

Full biography

Paavali Jumppanen

One of the most fascinating pianists from Finland, Paavali Jumppanen is equally at home on the stage as a soloist or chamber musician. His vast repertoire spans much of the classical piano literature, including Bach, Mozart, and the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas, as well as contemporary music and avant-garde. His close collaboration with composer Pierre Boulez has resulted in the much acclaimed recordings of the composer's complete Piano Sonatas for Deutsche Grammophon, hailed by The Guardian "the best recorded disc of Boulez's piano music so far."

Full biography