Composer: Einojuhani Rautavaara
Orchestra: Belgium National Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Mikko Franck, Max Pommer, Leif Segerstam
Number of Discs: 4
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Ondine
Release: 2009
Size: 919 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Symphony No. 1
01. I. Andante
02. II. Poetico
03. III. Allegro
Symphony No. 2
04. I. Quasi grave
05. II. Vivace
06. III. Largo
07. IV. Presto
CD 02
Symphony No. 3
01. I. Langsam, breit, ruhig
02. II. Langsam, doch nicht schleppend
03. III. Sehr schnell
04. IV. Bewegt
Symphony No. 4 “Arabescata”
05. I.
06. II.
07. III.
08. IV.
CD 03
01. Symphony No. 5
Symphony No. 6, “Vincentiana”
02. I. Starry Night
03. II. The Crows
04. III. Saint-Remy
05. IV. Apotheosis
CD 04
Symphony No. 7 ‘Angel of Light’
01. I. Tranquillo
02. II. Molto allegro
03. III. Come un sogno
04. IV. Pesante-cantabile
Symphony No. 8 ‘The Journey’
05. I. Adagio assai
06. II. Feroce
07. III. Tranquillo
08. IV. Con grandezza
Einojuhani Rautavaara may well be the most popular symphonist alive today. On the occasion of his 80th anniversary, Ondine pays homage to its longtime ‘house composer’ by releasing the first-ever edition of the complete eight symphonies, in a special box set. Written between 1955 and 1999, the eight symphonies form a central pillar in Rautavaara’s extensive artistic output and showcase the many stylistic periods in his fruitful career.They are hauntingly accessible to the listener and have proven wide audience appeal; the Seventh Symphony, ‘Angel of Light’ (1994), became a best-seller and spurred Rautavaara to considerable international fame (including a Grammy nomination), leading The Philadelphia Orchestra to commission the Eighth Symphony, ‘The Journey’ (1999), for their centenary celebrations. These recordings have all been released by Ondine to international popular and critical acclaim, and were all produced in close collaboration with the composer