Lotta Wennäkoski
Soie for flute and orchestra
Hava · Amor Omnia Suite
Kersteen McCall, flute
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Dima Slobodeniouk, conductor
Track listing
5 tracks · 55:00Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Lotta Wennäkoski
- Soie for flute and orchestra (2009) 18:28
- 1 I Voile 10:04
- 2 II Lin gros 1:26
- 3 III Soie 6:58
- 4 Hava (2007) 10:01
- 5 Amor Omnia Suite (2014) 26:31
About this recording
This new recording on Ondine includes new orchestral works by Lotta Wennäkoski (b. 1970). Wennäkoski's works are characterised by a rich and colourful sound world that often incorporates unconventional playing techniques and noise. In recent years her range of expression has become gradually broader, deeper and more powerful.
Soie is a concertante work commissioned by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for flute and orchestra in three movements and placed on the list of recommended works at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers. The soloist of the work is Kersten McCall, the principal flutist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Hava is an orchestral piece commissioned by the Tapiola Sinfonietta and premiered at the orchestra's 20th anniversary concert in January 2008. Amor Omnia is a silent film score of 90 minutes' length and Wennäkoski's most extensive work to date. In 2014, Wennäkoski adapted a concert suite from her film score, the Amor Omnia Suite.
Wennäkoski is among the leading Finnish composers of her generation. Wennäkoski made her debut as a composer in 1999. Wennäkoski studied first violin, music theory and Hungarian folk music in the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest and got her diploma from the Sibelius Academy in 2000. Her main composition teachers have been Eero Hämeenniemi, Kaija Saariaho and Paavo Heininen. In 1998-99 Wennäkoski studied in the Netherlands with Louis Andriessen.
The recent recordings of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra on Ondine have gathered excellent reviews in the international press.
This album marks the debut of conductor Dima Slobodeniouk on Ondine. Slobodeniouk combines his native Russian roots with his years of musical studies in Finland, now his home for over two decades. Drawing together the powerful musical strengths of these countries places Slobodeniouk as one of today's younger generation of deeply informed and intelligent artistic leaders on the podium. In February 2013 Dima Slobodeniouk was appointed Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia.
Features
Sleeve notes in English and Finnish.
Press
There's a consistent exploration of orchestral light, translucence and patience (...). Plenty of evidence why this composer has long been considered 'one to watch' in Finland.
Andrew Mellor, Gramophone, Awards issue 2015
The artists
Kersteen McCall
Kersten McCall, since 2005 principal flutist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, was born in Freiburg, Germany as son of composer Brent McCall. He grew up in Donaueschingen, where the Donaueschingen Festival for contemporary music is still held every October. It was in this rich musical environment that McCall took up the flute at the age of nine. He later studied with teachers such as Felix Renggli, Renate Greiss and Aurele Nicolet. Between 1997 and 2005 he was principal flutist of the Radio Symphony Orchestra Saarbrucken, Germany.
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO) is the orchestra of the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle), and its mission is to produce and promote Finnish musical culture.
Dima Slobodeniouk
In his first term as Music Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia Dima Slobodeniouk's impact has been felt for his deeply informed and intelligent artistic leadership. Combining his native Russian roots with his years of musical study in Finland he draws on the powerful musical strengths of these countries he currently makes his homes both in La Coruña and Helsinki.