Saturday, September 18, 2010

Einojuhani Rautavaara - Angel of Light, Cantus Arcticus, and Dances with the Winds


1999 ; 11 tracks


Einojuhani Rautavaara is a Finnish composer of powerful classical music in the likeness of Grieg, Tveitt, Sibelius, and other Scandinavian composers. Here are his most amazing works, in my opinion, that are hardly obscure or inaccessible, despite the fact that Rautavaara is quite often overlooked. His music is icy and powerful, and, as stated before, much like Tveitt and Greig. I love love love Tveitt's "Aurora Borealis" piano concerto, and the Concerto for Birds & Orchestra (which is, needless to say, an ingenious concept) is very similar in landscape and communicative power.

I highly, highly recommend Rautavaara as his vivacious and almost -foreign-, exciting nature, shown through these three remarkable pieces, will honestly take your breath away.

1-4. Symphony No. 7 ('Angel of Light')
Jaakko Kuusisto / Lahti Symphony Orchestra

5-8. Flute Concerto ('Dances with the Winds'), Op. 69
Sakari Tepponen / Lahti Symphony Orchestra

9-11.Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra), for orchestra & taped bird songs, Op. 61
Osmo Vänskä / Lahti Symphony Orchestra


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