Rautavaara: Rubáiyát, Balada, Canto V & 4 Songs from Rasputin Gerald Finley

• Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928): Rubáiyát
• 1I. Awake!03:00
• 2Interlude I01:27
• 3II. And lately02:46
• 4Interlude II00:54
• 5III. Here with a loaf of bread02:19
• 6Interlude III01:35
• 7IV. We are no other than a moving row03:06
• 8Interlude IV00:35
• 9V. Oh, make haste!02:28
• Into the Heart of Light, Canto V
• 10Into the Heart of Light, Canto V13:05
• 11Balada16:55
• 12No. 1. Troikka kiitää (Troika trotting)01:11
• 13No. 2. Koston aika (The day of vengeance)02:18
• 14No. 3. En pelkää nyt (I fear not)02:39
• 15No. 4. Loista, Siion, loista! (Shine, Zion, shine!)04:33
• Total Runtime58:51

Info for Rautavaara: Rubáiyát, Balada, Canto V & 4 Songs from Rasputin

This new recording by Ondine includes the world premiere recordings of four works by the celebrated Finnish contemporary composer Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928). Rubáiyát (2015) is a song cycle based on the poetry of Omar Khayyam (10481131). The work was written for Gerald Finley who in this recording sings the solo part of the orchestral version of the work. Balada (2014), based on texts by Lorca, is a large-scale work for tenor, mixed choir and orchestra. Tenor Mika Pohjonen sings as the soloist. This cantata was premiered in Madrid in May 2015. Into the Heart of Light (Canto V; 2012) is the composer's latest instalment in a series of works for string orchestra that share the title Canto. Rautavaara wrote the first of his Cantos in the 1960s, and each piece in the series have represented well the latest stylistic developments by the composer. The concluding work of the recording is Four Songs from the opera Rasputin. These dramatic songs were arranged by the composer for mixed choir and orchestra in 2012. In the last two decades the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra - conducted in this present recording by John Storgårds - has released several award-winning recordings of the music of Einojuhani Rautavaara.

“John Storgårds and the Helsinki Philharmonic, in fine form, record a selection of [Rautavaara’s] recent, largely vocal works…well worth hearing” (BBC Music Magazine)

„A fine recording lacking nothing in impact and subtlety. Complements some glorious music-making.“ (MusicWeb International)

Gerald Finley, bass-baritone
Mika Pohjonen, tenor
Helsinki Music Centre Choir
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor

No biography found.

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