Search - Esa Ruuttunen, Jorma Hynninen, Juha Kotilainen :: Sallinen: Kullervo

Sallinen is one of the great opera composers of the past few decades, although his first two, Ratsumies (The Horseman) and Punainen Viiva (The Red Line), are sadly out of print at the moment. Kullervo sets a powerfully tragic Finnish myth that is roughly comparable to the story of Oedipus. The title character is marked by fate to destroy all those closest to him, including his parents and his sister (whom he seduces and who subsequently kills herself). Finally, in a fit of remorse and self-loathing, he kills himself. Much of this opera is "horror-movie music"--static, bleak, and dissonant. It's a powerfully brooding piece of writing, but you have to be prepared to follow along with the text. This excellent performance gives the music maximum immediacy and impact. --David Hurwitz