Content:

Einojuhani Rautavaara

Rubáiyát, song cycle for baritone and orchestra

Into the Heart of Light (Canto V) for string orchestra

Balada for tenor, mixed choir and orchestra

Four songs from the opera Rasputin for mixed choir and orchestra



Artists:
Gerald Finley, bass-baritone
Mika Pohjonen, tenor
Helsinki Music Centre Choir
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor

Genres:
Instrumental
Orchestral
Choral
Vocal
Finnish contemporary

Features:

Sleeve notes in English and Finnish

Lyrics in sung original languages (Spanish in Balada), English and Finnish translations.

Format:
CD

Released:
May 2016

Catalogue No.:
ODE 1274-2

EAN/UPC Code:
0761195127421

Track listing

CD 59:29
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928-2016)
Rubáiyát for baritone and orchestra 18:10
1 I - Awake! 3:00
2 Interlude I 1:27
3 II - And lately 2:46
4 Interlude 2 0:54
5 III - Here with a Loaf of Bread 2:19
6 Interlude 3 1:35
7 IV - We are no other than a moving row 3:06
8 Interlude 4 0:35
9 V - Oh, make haste 2:28
10 Into the Heart of Light (Canto V) for string orchestra 13:05
11 Balada for tenor, mixed choir and orchestra 16:55
Four songs from the opera Rasputin for mixed choir and orchestra 10:41
12 Troika trotting 1:11
13 The day of vengeance 2:18
14 I fear not 2:39
15 Shine, Zion, shine! 4:33



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Complete description

Rubáiyát (2015) is a song cycle based on the poetry of Omar Khayyam (1048–1131). The work was written for Gerald Finley who in this recording sings the solo part of the orchestral version of the work.


Balada (2014), based on texts by Lorca, is a large-scale work for tenor, mixed choir and orchestra. Tenor Mika Pohjonen sings as the soloist. This cantata was premiered in Madrid in May 2015.


Into the Heart of Light (Canto V; 2012) is the composer’s latest installment in a series of works for string orchestra that share the title Canto. Rautavaara wrote the first of his Cantos in the 1960s, and each piece in the series have represented well the latest stylistic developments by the composer.

The concluding work of the recording is Four Songs from the opera Rasputin. These dramatic songs were arranged by the composer for mixed choir and orchestra in 2012.

In the last two decades the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra - conducted in this present recording by John Storgårds - has released several award-winning recordings of the music of Einojuhani Rautavaara.