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Ondine

Hommage To Sibelius / Comissiona, Helsinki Philharmonic

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Details

Composer
PICKER, TOBIAS ENGLUND, SVEN
Artist
Sergiu, Comissiona
Format
CD
Label
Ondine
Released
Sep 17, 2008
Catalog #
ODE767
UPC
6413657776725

About

REVIEW:

Sergiu Comissiona has long been admired for his all-round musical sympathies. Sadly, he has not been a regular visitor to Britain in recent years, preferring to devote himself to those orchestras where he holds a position, most notably the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. He has long been an initiator of stimulating musical projects; while Music Director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, he commissioned fanfares from 30 of America's leading composers. In 1990, to mark the 125th anniversary of Sibelius's birth, he persuaded the Helsinki Philharmonic to commission eight composers from all round the world to write a short piece each as a tribute to Finland's national composer.

Not surprisingly, some of the pieces are more successful than others. However, the project complete, all the pieces have been released on disc by Comissiona and his committed orchestra. They start with a lively—and presumably authentic—account of the master's En saga. This music must surely be coursing through the veins of all Finnish musicians. A delightful and undemanding piece by Thea Musgrave leads the tributes with deliberate echoes of Sibelius's music. This is followed by Ciacona by Einar Englund: a traditionally-based piece by a composer who knew and was encouraged and supported by Sibelius. Then comes an atmospheric piece by the Japanese composer, Joji Yuasa, and an exhilarating work by the young Finnish composer, Erkki-Sven Tuur. The American composer, Tobias Picker, describes his brief tribute as a conversation between Sibelius, Schoenberg and Stravinsky. Wilfred Josephs's piece is rather static while Marius Constant has composed a beautiful score with a real feel for colour and texture. The collection ends with a big piece, despite its brevity, from Poul Ruders again containing allusions to the music of Sibelius.

Although this is a commemorative disc which will be a must for the admirers and devotees of Sibelius's music, it will also be of interest to those with a taste for the less demanding byways of new music.

-- Gramophone [4/1992]

Tracklist 9 tracks

  1. 1 En saga, Op. 9 20:27
    Track
    1
    Title
    En saga, Op. 9
    Duration
    20:27
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  2. 2 Song of the Enchanter 06:06
    Track
    2
    Title
    Song of the Enchanter
    Duration
    06:06
    Composer
    Thea Musgrave
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  3. 3 Ciacona, "Hommage a Jean Sibelius" 07:51
    Track
    3
    Title
    Ciacona, "Hommage a Jean Sibelius"
    Duration
    07:51
    Composer
    Einar Englund
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  4. 4 The Midnight Sun (arr. for orchestra) 06:50
    Track
    4
    Title
    The Midnight Sun (arr. for orchestra)
    Duration
    06:50
    Composer
    Joji Yuasa
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  5. 5 Hommage a Sibelius, "Searching for Roots" 04:34
    Track
    5
    Title
    Hommage a Sibelius, "Searching for Roots"
    Duration
    04:34
    Composer
    Erkki-Sven Tüür
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  6. 6 Seance, "Homage a Sibelius" 02:48
    Track
    6
    Title
    Seance, "Homage a Sibelius"
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  7. 7 In the North 05:54
    Track
    7
    Title
    In the North
    Duration
    05:54
    Composer
    Wilfred Josephs
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  8. 8 Hameenlinna (An Imaginary Landscape) 03:46
    Track
    8
    Title
    Hameenlinna (An Imaginary Landscape)
    Duration
    03:46
    Composer
    Marius Constant
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona
  9. 9 Tundra 05:59
    Track
    9
    Title
    Tundra
    Duration
    05:59
    Composer
    Poul Ruders
    Ensemble
    Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Sergiu Comissiona