Search - Marko Ylönen, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Max Pommer :: Rautavaara: Symphony No. 6 - Vincentiana; Cello Concerto, Op. 41

A new world popular cello concerto? It's about time.

Crt Sojar Voglar | Ljubljana, Slovenia | 07/29/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Symphony No. 6 is briliant but the Cello concerto! This is the most beautiful cello concerto written in the last 40 years! Even if it is called 'neo-romantic' and seems in many ways surprisingly traditional. But the quality of music should never be defined by its style, rather by the composer's own abilities! And Rautavaara has indeed many of them!

The first movement is a masterful intrada with a lot of energy and is simple to remember and follow for its repetitive motifs and clear sonata structure. The second movement gives you shivers and also shows the composer's ability to combine contrasting chords on the same tonal centre, which is magical to listen. And the light and relaxed third movement concludes the concerto so perfectly! I sincerely hope the cellists will discover the fact that there are more beautiful cello concertos in the world besides from Dvoøak, Haydn and Elgar! Rautavaara's example is perfect. And it's written in present time.

The Sixth Symphony is more suite-like composition and therefore lacks the organism in development that symphony would require. All four movements stand well on their own: I find the second movement most interesting. The notable instrument is sythesizer, whose SF sounds make the atmosphere more unusual. But it can't be matched with the composer's Third, Fifth or Seventh symphony."