Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra: Karelia Suite Rakastava Lemminkainen - SUPER-AUDIO CD

Title: Karelia Suite Rakastava Lemminkainen
Artist: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Label: Bis
Product Type: SUPER-AUDIO CD
UPC: 7318599926384
Genre: Classical
Release Date: 2024-02-16
Number of Discs: 1
Additional Details: HYBRID SACD

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra can with justification be regarded as 'Sibelius's own orchestra', as it was this orchestra, usually conducted by the composer, that premièred most of his major works. On this disc of three such pieces, the orchestra is conducted by Susanna Malkki; the recording follows on from their three acclaimed albums devoted to the music of Bartók. Although they were all later revised, the three works on this recording all originated within a very short period in Sibelius's career: the years 1893-96, a time when he was beginning to establish himself as a composer and a time of national awakening. One of his most popular works, the Karelia Suite is drawn from a series of tableaux that evoked events in the history of Karelia, the region where Finland and Russia meet. In late 19th-century Finland, the promotion of Karelian folk culture was both fashionable and politically relevant. The short suite Rakastava [The Lover] is a subtle reworking of a work for male voices based on lyrical poems from the collection Kanteletar; Sibelius often conducted it in concert. Sibelius often drew inspiration from the Finnish national epic Kalevala, and episodes from this poem provide the subject matter of Lemminkainen, a substantial four-movement suite (including the captivating Swan of Tuonela) that recounts the adventures of a daredevil hero, a sort of Nordic Don Juan.

Tracks:
1.1 Karelia Suite, Op. 11~I. Intermezzo. Moderato
1.2 Karelia Suite, Op. 11~II. Ballade. Tempo di menuetto
1.3 Karelia Suite, Op. 11~III. Alla marcia. Moderato
1.4 Rakastava, Op. 14 for sring orchestra, timpani and triangle~I. The Lover. Andante con moto
1.5 Rakastava, Op. 14 for sring orchestra, timpani and triangle~II. The Path of His Beloved. Allegretto
1.6 Rakastava, Op. 14 for sring orchestra, timpani and triangle~III. Good Evening!...Farewell!. Andantino - Doppio più lento - Lento assai
1.7 Lemminkäinen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~I. Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island
1.8 Lemminkäinen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~II. The Swan of Tuonela
1.9 Lemminkäinen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~III. Lemminkäinen in Tuonela
1.10 Lemminkäinen, Op. 22 (Four Legends from the Kalevala)~IV. Lemminkäinen's Return