Search - Madetoja, Sakari, Iceland Symphony Orchestra :: Symphonies 1 & 2

Leevi Madetoja was an exact contemporary of Jean Sibelius, and one of the few Finnish symphonic composers whose works really do stand comparison to his illustrious colleague's. While the First Symphony is clearly derivative, the Second is a stormy, Romantic work that gives Sibelius's Second a good run for its money. The only thing that has kept Madetoja's works out of the public spotlight this long is the fact that he didn't live to compose more orchestral music--there are three symphonies and a few other pieces, but he's best known in Finland as an opera composer. With his works now readily available on CD in excellent performances like these, there's no reason to leave him languishing in obscurity. --David Hurwitz