Aho: Chamber Music / Peltonen, Fraki, Kuusisto
Details
- Composer
- AHO, KALEVI
- Artist
- Peltonen, Fraki, P. Kuusisto, J. Kuusisto
- Format
- SACD
- Label
- BIS
- Released
- May 01, 2020
- Catalog #
- BIS-2186
- UPC
- 7318599921860
About
Internationally acclaimed for his music for orchestra (17 symphonies and 31 concertos to date), Kalevi Aho has also composed chamber and solo works. The present disc combines six such pieces, ranging across the composer’s career. The earliest work on the disc is the Bach-inspired Sonata for solo violin from 1973, reminding us that during his years at the Sibelius Aacademy (1968 – 71), Aho studied the violin as well as composition. Another early piece, Prelude, Toccata and Postlude, also started out as a solo work – this time for the cello – before developing into a duo. From the other end, chronologically speaking, is the ample Piano Sonata No. 2 from 2016, with a duration of some 25 minutes. This time it is Beethoven who has provided inspiration, and the composer describes the work as ‘a commentary on the Hammerklavier Sonata, in which Beethoven’s motifs are frequently “misquoted” and developed in a different direction.’ The sonata closes the programme but not before giving us an opportunity to hear three further works involving the violin – a second solo piece, In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren, written in memory of Aho’s fellow composer and friend, Lamento for two violins and Halla (‘frost’) for violin and piano. Performing these works are four highly respected Finnish musicians, the violinists (and brothers) Jaakko and Pekka Kuusisto, Samuli Peltonen (cello) and Sonja Fräki, pianist and Aho specialist.
REVIEW:
The two pieces written to mourn fellow musicians are, in fact, the best. Lamento was created for the funeral of the violinist Sakari Laukola, who died young in 2001. Jaakko Kuusisto’s sincerity obvious and his tone particularly strong and beautiful high up.
– Gramophone
Tracklist 14 tracks
-
1 Prelude 03:20
- Track
- 1
- Title
- Prelude
- Duration
- 03:20
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Samuli Peltonen, Sonja Fräki
-
2 Toccata 03:07
- Track
- 2
- Title
- Toccata
- Duration
- 03:07
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Samuli Peltonen, Sonja Fräki
-
3 Postlude 03:08
- Track
- 3
- Title
- Postlude
- Duration
- 03:08
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Samuli Peltonen, Sonja Fräki
-
4 Lamento 04:36
- Track
- 4
- Title
- Lamento
- Duration
- 04:36
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Jaakko Kuusisto, Pekka Kuusisto
-
5 Halla 07:40
- Track
- 5
- Title
- Halla
- Duration
- 07:40
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Jaakko Kuusisto, Sonja Fräki
-
6 I. Tempo di ciacona 08:30
- Track
- 6
- Title
- I. Tempo di ciacona
- Duration
- 08:30
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Jaakko Kuusisto
-
7 II. Andante 03:50
- Track
- 7
- Title
- II. Andante
- Duration
- 03:50
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Jaakko Kuusisto
-
8 III. Grandioso - Coda 08:36
- Track
- 8
- Title
- III. Grandioso - Coda
- Duration
- 08:36
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Jaakko Kuusisto
-
9 In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren 10:09
- Track
- 9
- Title
- In memoriam Pehr Henrik Nordgren
- Duration
- 10:09
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Jaakko Kuusisto
-
10 I. Allegro - Presto - Allegro molto - 09:04
- Track
- 10
- Title
- I. Allegro - Presto - Allegro molto -
- Duration
- 09:04
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Sonja Fräki
-
11 II. Tranquillo 05:01
- Track
- 11
- Title
- II. Tranquillo
- Duration
- 05:01
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Sonja Fräki
-
12 III. Allegro molto - 04:33
- Track
- 12
- Title
- III. Allegro molto -
- Duration
- 04:33
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Sonja Fräki
-
13 IV. Campane - 02:55
- Track
- 13
- Title
- IV. Campane -
- Duration
- 02:55
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Sonja Fräki
-
14 V. Allegro 04:54
- Track
- 14
- Title
- V. Allegro
- Duration
- 04:54
- Composer
- Kalevi Aho
- Performer
- Sonja Fräki