JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Liebeslieder Aldis Liepiņš & Dace Kļava (pianos) Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava [ Ondine / CD - released 10/Jul/2015 ] "Under Sigvards Kļava these singers don't wallow in over-sentimentality but give an impressive interpretation of this glorious music, aided by two superb pianists." Choir & Organ |
HEINO ELLER
Heino Eller: Violin Concerto / Symphony No 2 / etc Baiba Skride (violin) / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts [ Ondine / CD - released 9/Nov/2018 ] "Estonian composer Heino Eller was a wonderful orchestrator, as revealed in these beautiful, if slightly forgettable, works. Skride, Elts and co, however, give the strongest advocacy for them with terrific playing" BBC Music |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH / SERGEI PROKOFIEV / KURT WEILL
Shostakovich: Preludes / Prokofiev: Visions Fugitives / etc Benjamin Schmid (violin) Lisa Smirnova (piano) [ Ondine / CD - released 2/Feb/2015 ] "What cannot be denied is the passionate engagement of the soloist, a big-toned player…[and] an accomplished jazz musician…this long-gestated project has a dangerous exuberance all its own" (Gramophone) |
UUNO KLAMI / EINAR ENGLUND
Klami / Englund: Violin Concertos Benjamin Schmid (violin) / Oulu Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Gustavsson [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Sep/2016 ] "A vital imagination is evinced by every aspect of this disc" MusicWeb |
RICHARD STRAUSS / RICHARD WAGNER
Transfiguration - Wagner and Strauss Scenes Camilla Nylund (soprano) / Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra / Hannu Lintu [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Feb/2011 ] "Nylund is temperamentally suited to this kind of thing - Isolde's so-called Liebestod is the disc's big success...yet she manages the conversational tone of [the Arabella scene] well, and her long address to the tree in Daphne is attractive too" BBC |
J. S. BACH
Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin Christian Tetzlaff (violin) [ Ondine / 2 CD - released 8/Sep/2017 ] "His tonal palette is richly chromatic, and when the violin sound turns from the earthly to the ethereal, the effect is almost that of a philosophical discourse between body and soul" BBC Music Five Stars |
JOSEPH MARTIN KRAUS
Kraus: Viola Concertos David Aaron Carpenter (viola) / Tapiola Sinfonietta, Janne Nisonen [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Nov/2012 ] "Carpenter is a sensitive and knowledgeable guide through these works, which he plays as if they've always been with him. Viola players will surely rejoice that their concerto repertoire now has three challenging and beautiful... |
MAGNUS LINDBERG
Lindberg: Graffiti / Seht die Sonne Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Chamber Choir / Sakari Oramo [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Mar/2010 ] "..the truly individual moments are the most affecting - particularly the ethereal conclusion. In both works the orchestra under Sakari Oramo is a treasure trove of colour" BBC Music Five Stars |
ARMAS JARNEFELT
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Jarnefelt: Song of the Scarlet Flower [Full score to the 1919 film] Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Jaakko Kuusisto [ Ondine / 2 CD - released 11/Jan/2019 ] "This is lushly orchestrated music with dramatic flourishes that occasionally paint quite an emotional picture" BBC Music |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Piano Quartet in G Minor (orch. Schoenberg) Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Jaime Martín [ Ondine / CD - released 13/Apr/2019 ] "Jaime Martin revels in these marvellously lurid sonorities, pushing the woodwinds to the fore, and generally eliciting incisive, articulate playing from the Gävle orchestra." Gramophone |
SCHUMANN / BACH
Schumann: Adventlied & Ballade vom Pagen und der Königstochter & JS Bach: Cantata BWV 105 Helsinki Baroque Orchestra & Estonian Philharmonic Chamber, Aapo Hakkinen [ Ondine / CD - released 11/May/2019 ] Helsinki Baroque Orchestra and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir led by Aapo Häkkinen join their forces together with an impressive vocal cast, Carolyn Sampson, Benno Schachtner, Werner Güra, Jonathan Sells and Cornelius Uhle, in this unique... |
UUNO KLAMI
Klami: Northern Lights / Kalevala Suite / Cheremissian Fantasy Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgards [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Mar/2010 ] "John Storgards leads vibrant interpretations, with Samuli Peltonen an impressive cello soloist. The sonics are superbly lifelike, with plenty of detail and a wide dynamic range. Highly recommended." (10 / 10 ClassicsToday Feb 2010) |
ERICH KORNGOLD
Korngold: Much Ado Nothing / Sinfonietta Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds [ Ondine / 2 CD - released 29/Oct/2012 ] "With an orchestra of Helsinki's calibre in a score that delights - might one say wallows! - in the glories of a modern orchestra...there are many passages that will bring great pleasure" MusicWeb |
ERICH KORNGOLD
Korngold: Symphony in F sharp / Tänzchen im alten Stil Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. John Storgårds [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Aug/2011 ] "the cinematic feel is still there in this symphony's swelling climaxes and "Eastern" purple passages" (Daily Telegraph) |
RAUTAVAARA / HANSON / PROKOFIEV / RESPIGHI / REVUELTAS / etc
The Earthquake Experience: The Loudest Classical Music Of All Time / Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam, with Kari Jussila (organ) [ Ondine / CD - released 10/Feb/2017 ] This disc brings together some of the loudest, most exciting music ever written - neither music, nor your hearing, will ever be the same! An explosive collection of great tunes, driving rhythms, and sonic thrills. The 140 piece Helsinki Philharmonic... |
HUMMEL / MOZART / WINTER / ROSSINI
Bassoon Concertos Jaakko Luoma (bassoon), Tapiola Sinfonietta, Janne Nisonen (Concertmaster) [ Ondine / CD - released 19/Jul/2019 ] As an instrument, the bassoon has had a remarkable history. Beginning with its Renaissance ancestry as the dulcian, it developed during the Baroque period into an almost indispensable part of the ensemble. Antonio Vivaldi recognized the versatility... |
OLLI VIRTAPERKO
Olli Virtaperko: Romer's Gap Joonatan Rautiola (knifonium), Joonatan Rautiola (baritone saxophone), Perttu Kivilaakso (amplified cello) / Jyväskylä Sinfonia, Ville Matvejeff [ Ondine / CD - released 13/Dec/2017 ] "Amplified cello and orchestra sounds iffy on paper, but in practice there's something rather striking about this rock-meets-classical concerto" BBC Music |
ULJAS PULKKIS
Pulkkis: Tales of Joy, Passion, and Love / On the Crest of Waves / Vernal Bloom Kari Kriikku (clarinet) / Gabriel Suovanen (baritone) / Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra / Hannu Lintu [ Ondine / CD - released 22/Sep/2011 ] "If you haven't yet encountered Uljas Pulkkis, the 35-year-old Finnish composer, give this maverick's music a whirl. Tales of Joy, Passion and Love is his clarinet concerto for the insouciantly brilliant Kari Kriikku." The Times |
JUKKA TIENSUU
Tiensuu: Vie / Missa / False Memories I-III Kari Kriikku (clarinet) / Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra / John Storgårds [ Ondine / CD - released 10/Feb/2011 ] "This release might well be the best introduction possible to Tiensuu's highly personal sound world." (Recording of the Month MusicWeb Jan 2011) |
KARITA MATTILA
The Irresistible Karita Mattila (Incls 'Song to the Moon' & 'Round Midnight') Karita Mattila (soprano) with Ilmo Ranta (piano) / Turku Philharmonic Orchestra / Finnish Radio Symphony [ Ondine / CD - released 20/Apr/2010 ] Celebrated soprano Karita Mattila has proved herself to be irresistible in any musical genre. |