Oskar Merikanto: Songs Waltteri Torikka & Marko Hilpo

• Oskar Merikanto (1868 - 1924): Pai, pai, paitaressu (Bye bye my sweet swaddled baby), Op. 2 No. 1:
• 1 Merikanto: Pai, pai, paitaressu (Bye bye my sweet swaddled baby), Op. 2 No. 1 02:17
• Itkevä huilu (The weeping flute), Op. 52 No. 4:
• 2 Merikanto: Itkevä huilu (The weeping flute), Op. 52 No. 4 02:27
• Illansuussa (At nightfall), Op. 69 No. 2:
• 3 Merikanto: Illansuussa (At nightfall), Op. 69 No. 2 02:19
• Soi vienosti murheeni soitto (Play softly, thou tune of my mourning), Op. 36 No. 3:
• 4 Merikanto: Soi vienosti murheeni soitto (Play softly, thou tune of my mourning), Op. 36 No. 3 02:02
• Hyvästi! (Farewell!), Op. 87 No. 3:
• 5 Merikanto: Hyvästi! (Farewell!), Op. 87 No. 3 01:24
• Metsäkyyhkyset (The wood-doves), Op. 47 No. 1:
• 6 Merikanto: Metsäkyyhkyset (The wood-doves), Op. 47 No. 1 02:36
• Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu (Like the dying embers grow dark), Op. 47 No. 2:
• 7 Merikanto: Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu (Like the dying embers grow dark), Op. 47 No. 2 01:28
• Vanha mummo (Old woman), Op. 2 No. 2:
• 8 Merikanto: Vanha mummo (Old woman), Op. 2 No. 2 02:26
• Onneton (Unhappy), Op. 2 No. 3:
• 9 Merikanto: Onneton (Unhappy), Op. 2 No. 3 03:12
• Kevätlinnuille etelässä (To the spring birds in the south), Op. 11 No. 1:
• 10 Merikanto: Kevätlinnuille etelässä (To the spring birds in the south), Op. 11 No. 1 01:38
• Merellä (At sea), Op. 47 No. 4:
• 11 Merikanto: Merellä (At sea), Op. 47 No. 4 04:05
• Yö (Night), Op. 110 No. 1:
• 12 Merikanto: Yö (Night), Op. 110 No. 1 01:54
• Syyslaulu (Autumn song), Op. 110 No. 2:
• 13 Merikanto: Syyslaulu (Autumn song), Op. 110 No. 2 02:05
• Mummo (Nana), Op. 110 No. 3:
• 14 Merikanto: Mummo (Nana), Op. 110 No. 3 01:43
• Elämälle! (To life), Op. 93 No. 4:
• 15 Merikanto: Elämälle! (To life), Op. 93 No. 4 02:20
• Rukous (Prayer – Ave Maria), Op. 40 No. 2:
• 16 Merikanto: Rukous (Prayer – Ave Maria), Op. 40 No. 2 02:35
• Laulaja taivaan porteilla (A singer at the gate of Heaven), Op. 74 No. 2:
• 17 Merikanto: Laulaja taivaan porteilla (A singer at the gate of Heaven), Op. 74 No. 2 01:27
• Käy kirkkomaata illoin vanhat mummot (In the churchyard at eventide), Op. 74 No. 3:
• 18 Merikanto: Käy kirkkomaata illoin vanhat mummot (In the churchyard at eventide), Op. 74 No. 3 03:51
• Hyvää yötä (Good night), Op. 75 No. 1:
• 19 Merikanto: Hyvää yötä (Good night), Op. 75 No. 1 02:28
• Suvi-illan vieno tuuli (Summer evening’s breeze), Op. 87 No. 2:
• 20 Merikanto: Suvi-illan vieno tuuli (Summer evening’s breeze), Op. 87 No. 2 01:50
• 21 Merikanto: Laatokka (Lake Ladoga), Op. 83 No. 1 03:12
• Reppurin laulu (Song of the pedlar), Op. 14 No. 10:
• 22 Merikanto: Reppurin laulu (Song of the pedlar), Op. 14 No. 10 02:50
• Balladi (Ballad), Op. 69 No. 4:
• 23 Merikanto: Balladi (Ballad), Op. 69 No. 4 02:39
• Nocturne, OM180 (c. 1906):
• 24 Merikanto: Nocturne, OM180 (c. 1906) 02:22
• Marjatan kehtolaulu (Marjatta’s lullaby), OM159 (1921):
• 25 Merikanto: Marjatan kehtolaulu (Marjatta’s lullaby), OM159 (1921) 01:38
• Aurinko laski (The sun set), Op. 113 No. 1:
• 26 Merikanto: Aurinko laski (The sun set), Op. 113 No. 1 02:52
• Iltakellot (Evening bells), Op. 106 No. 1:
• 27 Merikanto: Iltakellot (Evening bells), Op. 106 No. 1 02:21
• Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren (O, remember the hymn that we used to sing?), Op. 52 No. 3:
• 28 Merikanto: Oi, muistatko vielä sen virren (O, remember the hymn that we used to sing?), Op. 52 No. 3 03:33
• Kullan murunen (Thou art a nugget of gold), Op. 20 No. 1:
• 29 Merikanto: Kullan murunen (Thou art a nugget of gold), Op. 20 No. 1 01:36
• Total Runtime 01:09:10

Info for Oskar Merikanto: Songs

During his lifetime, Oskar Merikanto (1868–1924) was the most popular composer at Finnish homes. Even today, in events such as weddings or funerals, his pieces are widely heard and performed. Merikanto was an excellent pianist and organist and possessed a particular gift in writing memorable melodies. Enjoying great popularity, Merikanto wrote over 200 songs, a number of duets and also several choral works, and nearly 200 piano works. Year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary from the death of Oskar Merikanto. To celebrate this anniversary year, baritone Waltteri Torikka is presenting 29 melodies by Oskar Merikanto through this album. Signed by Warner in 2015, Waltteri Torikka topped the Finnish pop charts for 3 weeks in 2018, performs frequently in European opera festivals and music festivals, and has also performed at the BBC Proms.

Waltteri Torikka, baritone
Marko Hilpo, piano

Waltteri Torikka
has established himself as one of the most sought-after opera singers of his generation in Finland. Torikka is known for his versatile repertoire and adaptability, and he feels equally at home in concert halls and on opera stages.

Throughout his career, Torikka has been honored with numerous awards, including the HSBC Laureates Award at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in 2009, the prestigious Martti Talvela Award in 2013, and the Pro Musica Foundation’s Young Musician of the Year Award in 2014. He was also the winner of the men’s category in the Lappeenranta Singing Competition in 2010.

Torikka has his Master’s degree from the Opera Department of Sibelius Academy and from the Royal Danish Opera Academy in Copenhagen.

Waltteri Torikka is a sought-after orchestral soloist and has performed with numerous orchestras such as the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, and Camerata Salzburg. He has also been a soloist on tour with Den Jyske Opera, collaborating with several Danish orchestras. Torikka made his debut as a soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the title role of the Kullervo Symphony at the Proms Festival in 2015. He has collaborated with conductors such as Mikko Franck, Anna-Maria Helsing, Leif Segerstam, Sakari Oramo, Dalia Stasevska, Michael Boder, Leif Segerstam, Ville Matvejeff, Louis Langrée, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Among Torikka’s opera roles are title roles in Don Giovanni, Jevgeni Onegin, and in The Marriage of Figaro. He has also portrayed Papageno in The Magic Flute, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Silvano in The Masked Ball, Danilo in The Merry Widow, Melot in Tristan and Isolde, Amfortas in Parsifal, Escamillo and Morales in Carmen, and Marcello and Schaunard in La Bohème. Torikka has premiered several musical compositions and opera roles, including the title roles in the opera Mannerheim composed by Tuomas Kantelinen and Sillanpää composed by Seppo Pohjola.

Waltteri Torikka is also a prolific recording artist. His debut album, “Sydän,” recorded with the Jyväskylä Sinfonia, went platinum in record time in Finland. He has also recorded an album titled “Rakkaus” with the Jyväskylä Sinfonia in 2016, and a Sibelius album with the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leif Segerstam in 2014. Torikka’s subsequent solo albums have frequently topped the official Finnish album chart.

In the current season, Waltteri Torikka can be seen as Belcore in Jyväskylä Opera’s production of ‘L’elisir d’amore’ and in the title role of Don Giovanni at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, as well as performing as a soloist with orchestras such as the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, Vaasa City Orchestra, and Mikkeli City Orchestra.

Additionally, Torikka is the Artistic Director of the Hämeenkyrö Festivals.

Booklet for Oskar Merikanto: Songs