Composer: Einojuhani Rautavaara
Performer: Elmar Oliveira, Marko Ylönen, Esko Laine, Reija Bister, Marielle Nordmann, Patrick Gallois, Richard Stoltzman, Kari Jussila, Ralf Gothóni, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Juha Kangas, Leif Segerstam, Max Pommer, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jean-Jacques Kantorow
Number of Discs: 4
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Ondine
Catalogue: ODE1156-2Q
Release: 2009
Size: 0.97 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Violin Concerto
01. I. Tranquillo
02. II. Energico
Cello Concerto, Op. 41
03. I. Allegro ma non troppo
04. II. Largo
05. III. Vivace
Angel of Dusk
06. I. His First Appearance
07. II. His Monologue
08. III. His Last Appearance
CD 02
01. Ballad
Harp Concerto
02. I. Pesante
03. II. Adagietto
04. III. Solenne
Cantus arcticus, Op. 61, “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra”
05. I. The Bog
06. II. Melancholy
07. III. Swans Migrating
CD 03
Flute Concerto, Op. 63, “Dances with the Winds”
01. I. Andantino
02. II. Vivace
03. III. Andante moderato
04. IV. Allegro
Clarinet Concerto
05. I. Drammatico ma flessibile
06. II. Adagio assai
07. III. Vivace
08. Annunciations
CD 04
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 45
01. I. Con grandezza
02. II. Andante
03. III. Molto vivace
Piano Concerto No. 2
04. I. In viaggio
05. II. Sognando e libero
06. III. Uccelli sulle passioni
Piano Concerto No. 3 “Gift of Dreams”
07. I. Tranquillo
08. II. Adagio assai
09. III. Energico
This first-ever edition of Einojuhani Rautavaara’s complete twelve concertos (written and recorded to this date) follows on the great success of the release of his eight symphonies, in a special box set.
Ondine’s long-time house composer is recognized as one of the greatest musical figures in Finland after Jean Sibelius. Between 1968 and 2001, he wrote solo works with orchestra for the violin, cello, double bass, harp, flute, clarinet, organ and the piano.
Highlights include the Violin Concerto which won a Cannes Classical Award in 1998, the Concerto for Birds (on tape) and Orchestra “Cantus Arcticus” which remains Rautavaara’s most popular and most frequently performed work of any kind, and the Third Piano Concerto “Gift of Dreams” which was commissioned, premiered and recorded by pianist-conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy. The other featured star performers include Patrick Gallois (flute) and Richard Stoltzman (clarinet).
The included recordings have been previously released to international popular and critical acclaim, and were all produced in close collaboration with the composer. The elegant box packaging, with the use of metallic colours, underlines the exclusivity of this edition, in combination with an attractive price.