Rautavaara: Modificata / Incantations / Towards the horizon Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra & John Storgårds

• 1 I. Theme 04:06
• 2 II. Variations of the theme 08:38
• 3 III. Finale 08:32
• 4 I. Praevariata 09:00
• 5 II. Meditatio 04:52
• 6 III. Affectio 03:24
• 7 I. Pesante 08:09
• 8 II. Espressivo 08:52
• 9 III. Animato (cadenza by C. Currie) 06:43
• Total Runtime 01:02:16

Info for Rautavaara: Modificata / Incantations / Towards the horizon

These world première recordings combine Einojuhani Rautavaara's latest two concertos with an orchestral piece from his early Modernist period (Modificata; 1957/2003).

The virtuoso Percussion Concerto Incantations (2008) features percussion soloist Colin Currie, who is the dedicatee and première performer of this work. Currie wrote himself the virtuoso cadenza to the final movement. Rautavaara's Second Cello Concerto Towards the Horizon (2009) was written for cellist Truls Mørk and plays continuously in one 20-minute movement. Reviewing the première performance the Star Tribune noted that the composer 'acknowledges a ‘taste for eternity' and a vain of mysticsm runs through his work.'

Einojuhani Rautavaara is recognized as one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius. His recordings on Ondine have been bestsellers and garnered numerous awards (including a recent GRAMMY nomination for his opera Kaivos).

'Rautavaara’s late works continue to reveal the hand of a master with a completely assured technique and a serenely confident personal style. Towards the Horizon, his Cello Concerto No. 2, is an introspective, poetic work cast in large-scale variation form. Like so many modern concertos, its quiet ending may limit its chances of becoming popular in concert, but the quality of the music is never in doubt and the melodic material is truly memorable. Rautavaara’s Percussion Concerto, subtitled “Incantations,” opens with an arresting chorale that returns both at the end of the first movement (sound sample below), and in the work’s final pages. I have often said that percussion concertos, conceptually speaking, are almost impossible to write because of the inherent limitations of the solo instrument(s), especially if (as here) the composer’s style is essentially tonal and melodic. To his credit, Rautavaara apportions the majority of the solo writing to vibraphone and marimba, with contrasting episodes given to untuned percussion. The result, effectively varied timbrally, works very well; even the concluding cadenza fits logically into its place in the finale, and does not outstay its welcome. Time will tell if “the percussion concerto problem,” if you accept that there is one, has been solved definitively. Either way, this is a very enjoyable listen.

Modificata belongs to Rautavaara’s early, twelve-tone period (the late 1950s) and while it’s understandable that he takes pride in some of these early pieces, there is no point in pretending that they are as characterful or successful as his later works. Even here, though, Rautavaara fashions distinctive melodic material for each of the piece’s three movements–the quick finale is particularly exciting and successful. The first movement seems to owe a little something to the first of Berg’s Three Pieces for Orchestra, but especially in this context, it would be difficult to make the case for this music being as expressive and interesting as the two concertos. Still, it’s good to have this audible measure of the distance that Rautavaara has travelled over the course of his career. As with all the releases in Ondine’s ongoing series dedicated to this composer, the performances are excellent. Both concertos are performed by their dedicatees, while the Helsinki Philharmonic under John Storgards does its usual fine job. So, for that matter, do Ondine’s engineers. Very recommendable.' (ClassicsToday.com)

Truls Mørk, cello
Colin Currie, percussion
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor

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