Kalevi Aho: Chamber Music Samuli Peltonen, Sonja Fräki, Jaakko & Pekka Kuusisto

• Kalevi Aho (b. 1949): Prelude, Toccata & Postlude:
• 1 Prelude, Toccata & Postlude: I. Prelude 03:20
• 2 Prelude, Toccata & Postlude: II. Toccata 03:07
• 3 Prelude, Toccata & Postlude: III. Postlude 03:08
• Kalevi Aho:
• 4 Lamento for 2 Violins 04:36
• 5 Halla 07:40
• Solo Violin Sonata:
• 6 Solo Violin Sonata: I. Tempo di ciacona - Più mosso - Prestissimo 08:30
• 7 Solo Violin Sonata: II. Andante 03:50
• 8 Solo Violin Sonata: III. Grandioso - Coda 08:36
• Kalevi Aho:
• 9 In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren 10:09
• Piano Sonata No. 2 "Hommage à Beethoven":
• 10 Piano Sonata No. 2 "Hommage à Beethoven": I. Allegro - Presto - Allegro molto 09:04
• 11 Piano Sonata No. 2 "Hommage à Beethoven": II. Tranquillo 05:01
• 12 Piano Sonata No. 2 "Hommage à Beethoven": III. Allegro molto 04:33
• 13 Piano Sonata No. 2 "Hommage à Beethoven": IV. Campane 02:55
• 14 Piano Sonata No. 2 "Hommage à Beethoven": V. Allegro 04:54
• Total Runtime 01:19:23

Info for Kalevi Aho: Chamber Music

Internationally acclaimed for his music for orchestra (17 symphonies and 31 concertos to date), Kalevi Aho has also composed chamber and solo works. The present disc combines six such pieces, ranging across the composer's career. The earliest work on the disc is the Bach-inspired Sonata for solo violin from 1973, reminding us that during his years at the Sibelius Aacademy (1968 - 71), Aho studied the violin as well as composition. Another early piece, Prelude, Toccata and Postlude, also started out as a solo work - this time for the cello - before developing into a duo. From the other end, chronologically speaking, is the ample Piano Sonata No. 2 from 2016, with a duration of some 25 minutes. This time it is Beethoven who has provided inspiration, and the composer describes the work as 'a commentary on the Hammerklavier Sonata, in which Beethoven's motifs are frequently "misquoted" and developed in a different direction.'

The sonata closes the programme but not before giving us an opportunity to hear three further works involving the violin - a second solo piece, In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren, written in memory of Aho's fellow composer and friend, Lamento for two violins and Halla ('frost') for violin and piano. Performing these works are four highly respected Finnish musicians, the violinists (and brothers) Jaakko and Pekka Kuusisto, Samuli Peltonen (cello) and Sonja Fräki, pianist and Aho specialist.

Samuli Peltonen, cello
Sonja Fräki, piano
Jaakko Kuusisto, violin
Pekka Kuusisto, violin

No biography found.

Booklet for Kalevi Aho: Chamber Music