Search - Aarre Merikanto, Tuomas Ollila, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra :: Aarre Merikanto: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 / Two Studies for Small Orchestra / Two Pieces for Orchestra - Matti Raekallio / Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra / Tuomas Ollila

Try something new

Richard Zencker | Scottsdale, AZ USA | 11/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I believe Aare Merikanto was the finest Finnish composer to emerge in the generation after Sibelius, but he achieved very little success, despite the fact that his father was a well-known composer of "light" music. The younger Merikanto's music is anything but "light," though he composed in such a bewildering variety of styles it is hard to describe. In his early years he rapidly progressed to extreme modernism, which caused the Finnish National Opera to decline to stage the opera they had commissioned from him. The effect of this crushing blow was quite significant; in later life he turned at some points to drugs, at other points he destroyed many of his works.



The works on this disk, though, hardly sound uncompromising to modern ears. Other reviewers have tried to compare them to works of other composers, but Merikanto's style(s) are so unique that they frustrate such attempts. Also, Merikanto had a rather liberal view of musical form, preferring a through-composed or improvisatory approach which further alienated him from the mainstream musical establishment of his time. As a result his works are almost unknown, but the works on this disc are engaging, brilliantly performed, and well-recorded.



Recommended for the listener seeking out unexplored corners of the orchestral repertory."

Very good pieces and recording!

mahlerii@aol.com | Richfield, MN | 01/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aaare Merikanto was the son of Oskar Merikanto, a Finnish organist. His talent was precocious, but political events of the 1920s and 30s caused a blacklisting of much of his music. This sad state of affairs is much rectified by these first-class recordings (world premiere, I assume because all but the 2nd Concerto is in manuscript). Raekaello plays superbly and is admirably backed by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra. The music has resonances of Prokofiev, Bartok, Shostakovich and even Rachmaninov (Merikanto once studied with Reger). The 2nd has more dissonance and is more like other 20th century concertos but the other works have more of a romantic feel about them. These smaller works have much melodic interest, as these seem to be works intended to be in a more popular style. Kudos to Ondine for releasing this CD!"

Rediscovered Genius

Jon H. Appleton | White River Junction, VT USA | 05/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"By accident someone gave me Aarre Merikanto's Piano Concertos Nos. 2&3. I fell in love with them instantly and for the last two months have been listening to them over and over. They are stylistically related to Rachmannoff (but more terse), Bartok (but more optimistic), and Prokofiev (but more romantic and exotic). There are moments that recall Gershwin (Concerto in F) and Reich (Desert Music). Their direction is often unpredictable. Sometimes you find yourself in a strange landscape, sometimes rushing along a stream of musical excitement not to be matched. I hope to find out all I can about Merikanto's music....."