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Sibelius: Karelia Suite; Rakastava; Lemminkäinen
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Barnes and Noble
Sibelius: Karelia Suite; Rakastava; Lemminkäinen
Current price: $23.99
Barnes and Noble
Sibelius: Karelia Suite; Rakastava; Lemminkäinen
Current price: $23.99
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Conductor
Susanna Mälkki
gained plenty of attention during her tenure as chief conductor of the
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
, which concluded in 2023; she made several recordings with the group, and some of these turned out to have commercial appeal. This one made classical best-seller lists in early 2024.
Mälkki
is most identified with 20th century and contemporary music, but here, she shows plenty of expertise in music by the most mainstream of Finnish composers,
Jean Sibelius
. Here, she and the
Philharmonic
essay some early
Sibelius
, which tends to be of a Wagnerian or a blood-and-guts cast, but the mature
is always lurking, ready to come out. There are some familiar pieces here; the
Karelia Suite, Op. 11
, is a picturesque work that is often performed everywhere, and
The Swan of Tuonela
, from the programmatic
Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
, is a concert standard. Sample the latter for a taste of
's gifts; the sound is flawless and the performance elegant, but there is not a hint of fussy perfectionism, and go on to the darker, adventure-oriented final two movements of this suite. In general,
avoids overdoing these works, which can sound like
Gilbert
and
Sullivan
if they get out of hand. The three-movement suite
Rakastava, Op. 14
, which started life as music for a male choir, is not often heard, at least outside Finland, and it is another draw in a greatly satisfying
release. The three works were recorded at different times, but the album nevertheless emerges as a sonic and artistic whole. ~ James Manheim
Susanna Mälkki
gained plenty of attention during her tenure as chief conductor of the
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
, which concluded in 2023; she made several recordings with the group, and some of these turned out to have commercial appeal. This one made classical best-seller lists in early 2024.
Mälkki
is most identified with 20th century and contemporary music, but here, she shows plenty of expertise in music by the most mainstream of Finnish composers,
Jean Sibelius
. Here, she and the
Philharmonic
essay some early
Sibelius
, which tends to be of a Wagnerian or a blood-and-guts cast, but the mature
is always lurking, ready to come out. There are some familiar pieces here; the
Karelia Suite, Op. 11
, is a picturesque work that is often performed everywhere, and
The Swan of Tuonela
, from the programmatic
Lemminkäinen Suite, Op. 22
, is a concert standard. Sample the latter for a taste of
's gifts; the sound is flawless and the performance elegant, but there is not a hint of fussy perfectionism, and go on to the darker, adventure-oriented final two movements of this suite. In general,
avoids overdoing these works, which can sound like
Gilbert
and
Sullivan
if they get out of hand. The three-movement suite
Rakastava, Op. 14
, which started life as music for a male choir, is not often heard, at least outside Finland, and it is another draw in a greatly satisfying
release. The three works were recorded at different times, but the album nevertheless emerges as a sonic and artistic whole. ~ James Manheim