EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Rautavaara: Concerto for Harp and Orchestra; Symphony No. 8, The Journey (with bonus CD sampler) Marielle Nordman (harp); Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam [ Ondine / CD - released 21/Feb/2005 ] "Sound is excellent. A disc well worth hearing, and having." - MusicWeb July 2004 |
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 |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Tapiola / En Saga / Eight Songs Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu (conductor) [ Ondine SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 24/Aug/2017 ] "Lintu's Tapiola does indeed settle into one of the finest performances on record, reconciling the obvious with the mysterious...Again, [En Saga] is a superb performance: rich down below, perky up top, full of delectable solos" Gramophone |
MAGNUS LINDBERG
Lindberg: Al Largo, Cello Concerto No. 2 & Era Anssi Karttunen (cello) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu [ Ondine SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Mar/2017 ] Magnus Lindberg (b. 1958) is among the most important European contemporary voices in classical music. This recording includes some of Lindberg's most recent orchestral works written during and after hiscomposer-in-residence years with the New York... |
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 |
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... |
WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI
Lutosławski: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 4; Jeux vénitiens Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu [ Ondine SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 12/Feb/2019 ] "All are played with searing energy by the Finnish Radio Symphony orchestra under the lucid baton of their chief conductor, Hannu Lintu, in equally successful performances…Captured in brilliant sound" BBC Award Finalist 2020 |
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 |
MAGNUS LINDBERG
Lindberg: Tempus Fugit / Violin Concerto No 2 Frank Peter Zimmermann (violin) / Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu [ Ondine SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 14/Sep/2018 ] "Under Hannu Lintu, the Finish Radio Symphony Orchestra plays with such clarity and insight that is feels like a beautifully balanced clockwork mechanism - albeit one with a mightily exuberant spirit." The Strad |
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) |
ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau [The Mermaid] / Sinfonietta, Op. 23 Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds [ Ondine SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 1/Oct/2016 ] "The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under John Storgårds, captured in stunning SACD sound, delivers a suave and subtly nuanced performance" (BBC Music) |
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... |