Einojuhani Rautavaara
12 Concertos
Vladimir Ashkenazy · Patrick Gallois · Richard Stoltzman · et al.
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Einojuhani Rautavaara
Cello Concerto No. 2 "Towards the Horizon"
Modificata · Percussion Concerto "Incantations"
Truls Mørk, cello
Colin Currie, percussion
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor
Track listing
9 tracks · 62:16Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Einojuhani Rautavaara
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 2 "Towards the Horizon" (2008-09) 21:16
- 1 Theme - 4:06
- 2 Variations of the theme - 8:38
- 3 Finale 8:32
- Modificata (1957/2003) 17:15
- 4 I. Praevariata 9:00
- 5 II. Meditatio 4:52
- 6 III. Affectio 3:24
- Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra "Incantations" (2008) 23:44
- 7 I. Pesante 8:09
- 8 II. Espressivo 8:52
- 9 III. Animato (Cadenza: Colin Currie) 6:43
About this recording
These world première recordings combine Einojuhani Rautavaara's latest two concertos with an orchestral piece from his early Modernist period (Modificata; 1957/2003).
The virtuoso Percussion Concerto Incantations (2008) features percussion soloist Colin Currie, who is the dedicatee and première performer of this work. Currie wrote himself the virtuoso cadenza to the final movement. Rautavaara's Second Cello Concerto Towards the Horizon (2009) was written for cellist Truls Mørk and plays continuously in one 20-minute movement. Reviewing the première performance the Star Tribune noted that the composer "acknowledges a ‘taste for eternity' and a vain of mysticsm runs through his work."
Einojuhani Rautavaara is recognized as one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius. His recordings on Ondine have been bestsellers and garnered numerous awards (including a recent GRAMMY nomination for his opera Kaivos).
Under their chief conductor John Storgårds, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra builds on long-time pedigrees of performing their compatriot's music.
Features
Booklet with liner notes in English and Finnish
The artists
Truls Mørk
Truls Mørk's reputation as a cellist of fierce intensity and grace has been built on performances throughout the world. He is a celebrated artist who performs with the most distinguished orchestras, including the Berlin and Munich Philharmonics, Royal Concertgebouw, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Staatskapelle Dresden, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, and Wiener Symphoniker. In North America he has worked with the orchestras of Boston, Los Angeles, New York Philharmonic, Chicago, and Cleveland, among others.
Colin Currie
Hailed as “the world’s finest and most daring percussionist” Colin Currie is a solo and chamber artist at the peak of his powers, acclaimed for his virtuosity and musical integrity. Championing new music at the highest level, Currie is soloist with the world's leading orchestras, including the Philharmonia, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Philadelphia, Cleveland and London Philharmonic orchestras.
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.
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