Einojuhani Rautavaara
Cello Concerto No. 2 "Towards the Horizon"
Modificata
Percussion Concerto "Incantations"
Colin Currie, percussion
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor
Orchestral
Finnish contemporary
Booklet with liner notes in English and Finnish
CD
Released:
February 2012
Catalogue No.:
ODE 1178-2
EAN/UPC Code:
0761195117828
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.
