Aulis Sallinen - Symphony No. 6; Cello Concerto (Ari Rasilainen; Jan-Erik Gustafsson)

Information

Composer: Aulis Sallinen

• (01) Symphony No. 6, Op. 65 'From a New Zealand Diary'
• (05) Cello Concerto, Op. 44

Jan-Erik Gustafsson, cello
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
Ari Rasilainen, conductor

Date: 2009
Label: cpo

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Rasilainen delivers an expert reading of Sallinen’s seminal Sixth Symphony

Sallinen’s reputation rests mainly on his operas but his output covers most of the major genres from string quartets to choral songs, cantatas to concertos. The Sixth of his (to date) eight symphonies was composed in 1989-90 to a commission from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra while the composer was still emerging from a creative crisis that had splintered his hitherto fluid, highly symphonic style in the mid-’80s. The work was a giant step forward in re-establishing an integrated style.

Okko Kamu’s pioneering recording took an expansive view, relishing the music’s textural contrasts and scintillating scoring, as does Rasilainen in this newcomer which shaves over three minutes off his rival. Half the difference arises in large part from the different pacing of the first movement, in particular the atmospheric opening from which Kamu teases out the greater mystery and expectation. Rasilainen is less measured in the final two spans and conjures some fine playing from the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. Kamu just edges the decision, especially with BIS’s sound still holding good. Rasilainen’s is an excellent alternative although the acoustic of the Ludwigshafen sounds marginally flatter than Malmö’s Concert Hall.

With performances so expertly played, consideration will go to the couplings: BIS provided the excellent Second Symphony (a surrogate percussion concerto) with the delightful Sunrise Serenade while CPO restore the fine Cello Concerto to the catalogue. Gustafsson audibly has the measure of the piece, ably supported by conductor and orchestra, moulding a convincing whole from the work’s two unequal parts. If he does not banish memories of Arto Noras (for whom the work was written – Finlandia, nla), this is still a fine account. Heartily recommended.

-- Guy Rickards, Gramophone

More reviews:
https://www.allmusic.com/album/aulis-sallinen-symphony-no-6-cello-concerto-mw0001428937
https://www.audaud.com/aulis-sallinen-symphony-no-6-from-a-new-zealand-diary-cello-concerto-jan-erik-gustafsson-cello-norrkoping-symphony-orchestraari-rasilainen-cpo__trashed/
https://www.amazon.com/Symphony-No-6-Cello-Concerto/dp/B002O2MCN0

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aulis Sallinen (born 9 April 1935) is a Finnish contemporary classical music composer. He attended the Sibelius Academy and studied with Aarre Merikanto and Joonas Kokkonen, among others. Though Sallinen was a known teacher and was on many boards of directors, his compositions were not particularly noted until he was made "Artist Professor" by the Finnish government in 1976, letting him concentrate on composing. He has had works commissioned by the Kronos Quartet, and has also written 7 operas, 8 symphonies, concertos for violin, cello, flute, horn, and English horn, as well as chamber works.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aulis_Sallinen

***

Ari Rasilainen (born 18 February 1959 in Helsinki) is a Finnish conductor. Rasilainen studied under Jorma Panula (conducting) at the Sibelius Academy, and later under Arvid Jansons (conducting) and Alexander Lobko (violin) in Berlin. He started his career as a violinist and was leader of the 2nd violins with the Helsinki Philharmonic (1980-1986). Rasilainen was Chief Conductor of the Lappeenranta City Orchestra (1984-1989), the Norwegian Radio Symphony (1994-2002), and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz (2002-2009). He has recorded More than 50 recordings for various labels.
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Rasilainen
http://www.arirasilainen.fi/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!