Bergman surprises REPERTOIRE TIPS Even at his most expressive moments, Bergman is Power and spirit in the opera Luther surprisingly lyrical…Aspekter impressed with its The opera has a force and spirit that create a great sense finely-tuned language and the variety of its expres- of community…The piously beautiful Grace Song EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA sion… Such a short distance to Scriabin’s universe. is a peaceful haven amid the world’s grim turmoil…The Hufvudstadsbladet 31.5. Encore pieces for orchestra Melancholy from Cantus arcticus orchestra maintains an evocative rhythmic beat that is (1972) Dur: 4’ Erik Bergman: Piano Music the elemental and often primitive-like source of energy CD: Tuomas Mali, piano (Pilfink Records JJVCD-166) HUGO ALFVÉN 2222-2210-11-hp-cel-str + tape in the music. Vallflickans dans/The Herd Maiden’s The second movement of Rautavaara’s most Helsingin Sanomat 3.6. Dance from the ballet the Mountain popular orchestral work serves as a dip into his aural landscape. Wondrous Eliasson Kari Tikka: Luther King (1923) Dur: 4’ This romantically opulent piece includes birdsong in dialogue The extensive Fogliame for piano quartet is a won- E-ensemble/Erkki Lasonpalo, sol. Elja Puukko, Aki Alamikkotervo, 3323-4000-str with the orchestra and is a work of expansive melodic arches drous piece: a river of music whose opening throb- Emriikka Salonen, etc. The folk music inspired The Herd Maiden’s Dance is a virtuosic and pure sound magic. 1.6. 2017 Espoo, Finland bing feels ever-present even when it’s not sounding Elja Puukko and Emriikka Salonen in Luther and striking piece, sparkling with joy. It is a display of genuine (echoes of Sibelius’s Seventh) and with plenty of PUROVAARA PIETARI PHOTO: orchestral fireworks that encloses a somewhat more tranquil, NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV/ long-form counterpoint that tells you this composer elegiac middle section. A favorite encore piece for Swedish ARR. KALEVI AHO means business… On the verge of eternity Samuelsson’s elegiac seasons orchestras on tour. The Flight of the Bumble-Bee Gramophone June 2017 The work has a dramatic character with a horn An elegiac comment to one (1900/arr. 2008) Dur: 2’ Anders Eliasson: Fogliame section of noisy battle horns, where the bassoons of classical music’s most TOBIAS BROSTRÖM for flute and orchestra: 2222-2220-10-str CD: Norrbotten Neo (BIS-2270 ”4 x Eliasson”) articulate particularly ominous tones. Mühlrad’s loved pieces… Baroque Beatnik (2015) Dur: 4’ This virtuoso version of the Bumble-Bee (written as an encore exploration of “the verge of eternity” offers temper- meets modernism here Large orchestra: 3233-4331-03-hp-pf(opt)-str piece for Sharon Bezaly) is a treat for any concert featuring a ament and vigorous action with a cinematic sound. with electronic elements Small orchestra: 2222-2100-01-pf(opt)-str flute. A skilled orchestrator, Kalevi Aho has a flair for idiomatic Images of the northern soul Norrköpings Tidningar 1.6. and does so in a stunningly This is a piece with an urban attitude, burst- and ear-opening arrangements. And perhaps this piece is, after The best combination of music and dance was Jacob Mühlrad: On the Verge of Eternity dialogical way... ing with energy and vivacity. It is fast, and rhythmic, continually all, better suited to the flute than to the tuba. provided by Virpi Pahkinen in Cantus arcticus based Norrköping SO/Michael Bartosch, 31.5 2017 Norrköping, Sweden Dagens Nyheter 1.7. alternating between 5/8, 3/4 and 7/8 time. Originally written as a virtuosic encore piece (”Sputnik”) for trumpeter Håkan on the music by Einojuhani Rautavaara. Rautavaara’s Marie Samuelsson: ALBERT SCHNELZER evergreen song of praise to northern nature with Five Seasons Hardenberger, Broström was later asked to prepare a version … turn them into instruments… solely for orchestra (”Beatnik”), which now exists in versions for its birdsong already provides plenty of themes … Stunning Haglund CD World premiere: Musica Vitae/Sirkka- from Symphony No. 1 – Azraeel (2007) DOUKKALI JOSEF PHOTO: large and small orchestra. and there was no lack of beauty and the feelings A simply stunning disc… This is the kind of music Liisa Kaakinen-Pilch, 28.6.2017 Båstad Chamber Music Festival, Sweden Dur: 3’30’’ aroused by nature in the movements and images. that makes you believe there is a future and rel- 2222-2200-01-str Rondo 7/2017 evance for contemporary music…this is some of the ARMAS JÄRNEFELT The fourth movement of Schnelzer’s First Symphony – Azraeel Ethereal and tender Praeludium (1900) Dur: 3’ Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus arcticus greatest contemporary music of the 21st century Soulfully conveyed by a tight septet consisting of is somewhat scherzo-like, dramatic, rhythmical and with an air Finnish National Opera Orchestra/Ainars Rubikis, choreography: 1121-2200-11-str of the dance. The main theme alternates between 7/8 and 6/8 to date… Unique and powerful music, stunningly clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello and bass, those Preludium is a popular, short orchestral Virpi Pahkinen, dancers: Mai Komori, Pauline Simon, Cauê Frias, played and recorded – a disc of the month and the time and, as so often with Schnelzer, one finds influences from Pontus Sundset, Nikolas Koskivirta musical musings had the ethereality and tenderness that piece and alongside his evergreen Berceuse Balkan music in the tone language. The piece ends a little unex- disc of the year for me. come with cherished memories while still being accom- brought Järnefelt international fame during the golden years of pectedly and with a note of humour. Music Web International July 2017 panied by an unmistakable touch of Nordic coolness. salon or ‘palm court’ music. It opens with a bright energy and Cauê Frias Classical Music Rocks 12.7. rhythmic drive and returns to it after a brief, lyrical section leav- and Mai Komori In high voltage mode, Marie Samuelsson: Förnimmelser/Notions ing the listeners in a cheerful mood. JEAN SIBELIUS in the Cantus but with a slow pulse, The Countess’s Portrait/Grevinnans US Premiere: The New Juilliard Ensemble/Joel Sachs, 9.7.2017 arcticus ballet the searching cello song New York, USA ERLAND VON KOCH konterfej (1906) Dur: 4’ is set free in a space that Nordic Capriccio for recitation (opt) and string orchestra is extended in a series of Composed on the initiative of a Ladies’ Asso- violently crashing trans- Erkki Melartin’s Aino (1943) Dur: 6’ ciation for a soirée in Vaasa, Finland, this exquisite and beautiful formations. It is quiet and The opera Aino (1909) by Melartin is an ecstatic song 2222-2210-10-strings piece is a melodrama that can be performed with or without of praise to nature in which National-Romanticism Inspired by a folk motif from the Swedish recitation. The poem by Zachris Topelius adds to the tranquil, shaking at the same time province Dalarna, this piece opens with a “troll-drum” timpani delicate mood created by the strings. and infinitely beautiful… tinged with Impressionism happily combines with solo which later returns linking the various sections together. It Dagens Nyheter 30.6. Wagnerian anguished chromaticism and myth. is a spectacular mixture of whirling dances and sweeping beau- The Spruce from ‘The Trees Op. 75’ (1922/arr.1942) Dur: 2’ Tommie Haglund: Flaminis Aura, Il regno degli Helsingin Sanomat 28.5. tiful strings. A highly effective and suggestive piece. 1111-1000-01-01-hp(or pf)-str (arr. Ernest Pingoud) spiriti, Sollievo (dopo la tempesta), Serenata per Erkki Melartin: Aino The orchestration of Five Pieces for Piano, Op. 75 is a charming Diotima Finnish National Opera/Klaus Mäkelä, sol. Helena Juntunen, Juha LARS-ERIK LARSSON suite consisting of five short movements: When the Rowan Tree CD: Gothenburg SO/David Afkham, sol. Ernst Simon Glaser, cello, Kotilainen, Jyrki Anttila, Anna-Kristiina Kaappola, Jeni Packalen, Blossoms, The Lonely Pine, The Aspen, The Birch and The Spruce. PHOTO: FINNISH NATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET/MIRKA KLEEMOLA KLEEMOLA BALLET/MIRKA AND OPERA NATIONAL FINNISH PHOTO: Malmö SO/Joachim Gustafsson, Trio ZilliacusPerssonRaitinen (BIS-2025) 26.5.2017 Helsinki, Finland Epilogue from A Winter’s Tale Each one is a perfect encore piece, especially The Spruce, which (1937-38) Dur: 4’ is one of Sibelius’s best-loved melodies. 2222-2210-00-1str Wennäkoski premiere at the Proms EDUARD TUBIN Romance from Pastoral Suite (1938) Dur: 4’ Flounce is easily one the most imaginative and unusual of the Proms Last string orchestra Setu tants (Dance from Setu) from Night commissions of recent years. It may work as a concert-opener, but During the years 1937-1938 Lars-Erik Larsson wrote two much Estonian Dance Suite (1938/57) – unlike most of its predecessors – that’s by no means all that it is, and for loved orchestral suites. In these we find two of the most glit- Dur: 4’ that she deserves kudos and congratulations. 1221-2210-10-hp-strings tering gems in the treasure trove of Swedish music; the mel- 5against4.com 9-2017 ancholy and meditative Epilogue from A Winter’s Tale and Setu tants is built on three dance tunes from the district of Setumaa Romance from The Pastoral Suite, an adagio for strings. These in South Eastern Estonia. It starts out lively and get even livelier as the It was a witty scherzo which managed to weave some unexpected are two lyrical, romantic, lovely and delicate pieces in which tempo increases throughout the piece until the final climax. formal twists into a span of only five minutes, and strike the right upbeat Larsson exhibits his unique feeling for melodies. note without sinking into cliché… deft and surprising… DAG WIRÉN Daily Telegraph 10.9. LEEVI MADETOJA Marcia (1937) from Serenade for By recent tradition, the Last Night opens with a premiere.