JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: Song of Destiny - Works for Choir and Orchestra Eric Ericson Chamber Choir & Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Jaime Martín [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Aug/2018 ] "A clean and deft approach to Brahms. Darkly-hued choral pieces concerning fate and destiny are balanced by the delicious Liebeslieder Waltzes." BBC Music |
WITOLD LUTOSLAWSKI
Lutosławski: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu [ Ondine / CD - released 28/Feb/2020 ] "His musicians respond with brilliant, punchy playing but are also capable of dazzling refinement…Altogether, Lintu's Lutosławski cycle sets a new standard" Five Stars BBC Music Magazine May 2020 Orchestral Choice |
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 |
SHOSTAKOVICH
Songs Gerald Finley (baritone) Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Thomas Sanderling [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Nov/2013 ] Canadian baritone Gerald Finley is one of the leading singers and dramatic interpreters of his generation. This is his debut recording with Ondine, already having many award-winning performances on CD and DVD. |
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA
Rautavaara: Rubaiyat / Balada / Cantov / Four Songs from Rasputin Gerald Finley (bass-baritone) Mika Pohjonen (tenor) / Helsinki Music Centre Choir, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds [ Ondine / CD - released 27/Apr/2016 ] "John Storgårds and the Helsinki Philharmonic, in fine form, record a selection of [Rautavaara's] recent, largely vocal works…well worth hearing" (BBC Music) |
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 |
VELI-MATTI PUUMALA
Anna Liisa Helena Juntunen, Jorma Hynninen, Tanja Kauppinen, Ville Rusanen / Tapiola Sinfonietta & Helsinki Chamber Choir, Jan Söderblom [ Ondine / 2 CD - released 1/Sep/2015 ] Ondine releases the world premiere recording of Veli-Matti Puumala's (b. 1965) opera Anna Liisa. Puumala's opera features several well-known Finnish opera artists, including Helena Juntunen and Jorma Hynninen. |
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... |
JEAN SIBELIUS
Sibelius: Lemminkainen Legends & Tapiola Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Jan/1995 ] |
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... |
MUSSORGSKY / TCHAIKOVSKY / TANEYEV
Hvorostovsky: In this moonlit night Dmitri Hvorostovsky (baritone) & Ivari Ilja (piano) [ Ondine / CD - released 28/Jan/2013 ] "This is a top-choice version of the Songs and Dances of Death and it is rendered even more valuable through being set in the context of equally persuasive performances of Tchaikovsky and Taneyev." (Gramophone Editor's Choice April 2013) |
PETERIS VASKS
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Vasks: Symphony No. 2; Violin Concerto John Storgards (violin) / Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra / John Storgards. Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra /J uha Kangas [ Ondine / CD - released 21/Feb/2005 ] "These are two rewarding lyrical works written during the last decade, generously coupled, passionately performed and luminously recorded." - MusicWeb |
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 |
SCHUMANN / BRAHMS / SIBELIUS / SCHUBERT / J. STRAUSS / etc
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Excellence: The Artistry of Karita Mattila Karita Mattila (soprano) with Ilmo Ranta (piano) / Turku Philharmonic Orchestra / Finnish Radio Symphony [ Ondine / CD - released 29/Jan/2005 ] "Mattila's singing is spectacular" - Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos / Capriccio Brillant Lars Vogt (piano/conductor), Orchestre Chambre de Paris [ Ondine / CD - released 11/Mar/2022 ] This new release is pianist-conductor Lars Vogt's debut album together with the Orchestre de chambre de Paris. Lars Vogt started his tenure as the new Music Director of the orchestra on 1 July 2020. |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 5 'Emperor' Lars Vogt (piano/conductor) / Royal Northern Sinfonia [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Jul/2018 ] "Vogt's playing in the slow movement [of the Emperor] is suitably rapt, and the whole performance radiates that sense of well-being which the piece demands" BBC Music |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos 2 + 4 Lars Vogt (piano/conductor) / Royal Northern Sinfonia [ Ondine / CD - released 1/Jul/2018 ] "The rapport between the soloist and this highly accomplished band of musicians is everything it should be, and more. These are marvellous performances" Gramophone Editor's choice May 2018 |
TALIVALDIS KENINS
Kenins: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6 Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Guntis Kuzma [ Ondine / CD - released 22/Oct/2021 ] The first album of orchestral works by one of Latvia's most prominent composers, Tālivaldis Ķeniņš (1919-2008), released in October 2020 has received a warm response from music critics around the world. This second volume by the Latvian National... |
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI
Penderecki: Sacred Choral Works Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava [ Ondine / CD - released 26/Jan/2024 ] "These utterly fearless unaccompanied singers bring precision to the most complex textures while retaining a palpable grasp of the music's emotional heart, imbuing it with an engaging sense of wonder." Five Stars BBC Music Recording of the Month |