Kalevi Aho: Sieidi, Symphony No. 5 (BIS-CD)
Joonas Kokkonen: The Last Temptations (extract)
Joonas Kokkonen: Requiem
Einojuhani Rautavaara: The House of the Sun, Act I (extract)
Antti Auvinen: Eliangelis
Antti Auvinen: Junker Twist
Antti Auvinen: Himmel Punk
Antti Auvinen: Turbo aria
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantos
Magnus Lindberg: Zona
Jean Sibelius: Grevinnans konterfej
Joonas Kokkonen: Music for string orchestra
Juhani Nuorvala: Sinfonietta (quartet version)
Aulis Sallinen: Aspects of Peltoniemi Hintrik’s Funeral March
Kalevi Aho: Viola Concerto
Lars Karlsson: Sju sånger till text av Pär Lagerkvist
Kai Nieminen: La Serenissima
Highlights is our newsletter focusing on classical and contemporary music from the Nordic countries. You can download the most recent Highlights and find here in-depth material of music presented in it.
New Antti Auvinen release
Ondine Records has released a CD of orchestral music by Antti Auvinen. The disc was so keenly awaited that the first imprint went entirely on pre-orders. Critics have been enthusisastic as you can read from the article in our latest Highlights. Read more aboout the CD and listen to sound samples on Ondine's web site.
Joonas Kokkonen centenary in 2021
Next year will mark the centenary of the birth of Joonas Kokkonen. A leading figure in the history of Finnish music, he is especially known for his symphonies and his opera The Last Temptations which will be performed at Jyväskylä Theatre from 31 December 2021 onwards; the Jyväskylä Sinfonia will be conducted by Ville Matvejeff. Fennica Gehrman has published a piano reduction of the opera to honour the centenary.
The House of the Sun to be staged
Einojuhani Rautavaara’s chamber opera The House of the Sun (Auringon talo) is to be staged by the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences on 9, 10 and 11 April 2021. The conductor will be Mikko Franck and the stage director Ville Saukkonen.
Acclaim for Kalevi Aho CD
BIS Records’ new Kalevi Aho CD containing the Percussion Concerto Sieidi and the 5th Symphony has had a truly enthusiastic reception in the media. Lahti Symphony Orchestra is conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk, and the soloist is Colin Currie. The CD was voted Music Web’s record of the month in October. Listen to sound samples on BIS Records' web site.
Joulujazzia / Christmas Jazz for piano
Pianist and singer Tessa Virta has arranged 15 Christmas songs for piano with an irresistible jazz touch. Tessa's YouTube video presents highlights from the album.
You can browse smaller-sized Finnish works in this spreadsheet by different categories.
Below you will also find exciting repertoire tips which we have presented in earlier issues of Highlights:
Works for smaller-sized orchestra (1/2)
Female composers
Works for ensemble
Fresh concert starters
Music for percussion
21th century works for strings
Solo concertos for brass instruments
Music for Christmas
Works for descant choir
Nordic works for guitar
Music for children
Encore pieces for orchestra
Wind and brass ensembles
Chamber operas
Concertos for several soloists or concertante groups
Concert pieces for organ
21th century works for mixed choir
Works for ensemble
Song cycles
Works for trumpet and orchestra
21st century works for solo piano
Works for saxophone and orchestra
Works for chamber orchestra
Chamber music with piano
Some 21st century symphonies
Works for wind and brass bands
Choral works with orchestra
Cello concertos
Selected piano concertos
Gems for voice and orchestra
21th century string quartets
Choral highlights
Violin concertos
Works for string orchestra
Nordic clarinet concertos
Fresh concert starters