Search - Jaako Kuusisto, Composer: Einojuhani Rautavaara, Osmo Vanska :: Symphony No. 8 ("The Journey") and Violin Concerto

As superb as the Helsinki recording on Ondine

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 01/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This may be one of those works that is impossible to perform badly, well, unless you are The Philadelphia Orchestra, whose monumental flub in the tranquillo section was astounding, especially given that Rautavarra had written the piece for them and it was the world premier and he was there! No wonder they don't have a recording contract.

In any case, this recording is the full measure of the journey of a life and vanska and team perform as one organic being, fully aware of the assailing winds, the ferocious tides as well as the moments of tranquility that infuse a life with its grand meaning. There is a difference to the Segerstam version. This is taken more melancholically, and coupled with the violin concerto, it makes for a powerfully emotional recording. But it is the kind of emotion that comes with age, not hormones, and as a result, the incredible profundity of the piece is articulated with just enough difference as to make both versions worth owning. I happen to think that neither Vanska nor Segersttam can do anything less than a compelling recording anyway, so I'm biased. Apparently GRAMAPHONE feels the same way. I'd say this is your best Classical CD of the year, and it's only the 18th of January!"

More lush modern romanticism from Rautavaara

R. Hutchinson | a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds | 06/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you already know you like Rautavaara, then you know what to expect. This disc is impossible to fault in any way -- it's more in the same vein as Symphony No. 7 ("Angel of Light"), probably the most well-known and best-loved of his compositions. The two works here, the "Violin Concerto" (1976/7 -- 26'55) and Symphony No. 8 -- "The Journey" (1999 -- 28'57) were both first recorded on the Finnish Ondine label. These performances and recordings are just as good, with the advantage that both of these superb works are found together on one and the same disc. Osmo Vanska leads the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, and Jaakko Kuusisto plays violin.



The movements of the "Violin Concerto" are called "tranquillo" and "energico," but it is characterized overall by its long, lyrical lines. Rautavaara has long since defected from the avant-garde, and this is flat-out ravishingly beautiful, romantic music. Symphony No. 8 is very much along the same lines as Symphony No. 7. It is perhaps less striking, which only makes sense given that it revisits the same territory, and the slow movement is certainly less likely to cause spiritual raptures than the Arvo Part-like corresponding movement in "Angel of Light." Mainly the difference lies in "The Journey" being slower and graver, more stately -- perhaps self-consciously closer to the end of the journey, "into the embrace of the eternal sea" in the composer's words. The grand romantic orchestral passages are once again evocative of wind and waves, of coast and forest, in the tradition of Sibelius.



This much-praised disc is a splendid accomplishment for all concerned, and would make a sterling addition to any Rautavaara collection."