Colin Currie, Truls Mork, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgards – Rautavaara: Modificata, Towards the Horizon & Incantations (2012/2016) [HighResAudio DSF DSD64/2.82MHz]

Einojuhani Rautavaara – Modificata, Towards the Horizon & Incantations – Colin Currie, Truls Mork, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgards (2012/2016)
DSF Stereo DSD64, 1 bit/2,8 MHz | Time – 01:02:16 minutes | 2,47 GB | Genre: Classical
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:02:16 minutes | 1,05 GB
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: highresaudio.com | Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD/Ondine Oy, Helsinki
Recorded: Helsinki, Finlandia Hall, 15.1.2011 (Incantations), Music Centre, 10.-12.8.2011. A 24-bit recording in dXd (digital eXtreme definition)

This new recording couples Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara’s latest concerto works with an orchestral piece from his early Modernist period (Modificata; 1957/2003). The virtuoso Percussion Concerto Incantations (2008) features the Scottish percussion soloist Colin Currie, who is the dedicatee and première performer of this work. Currie wrote himself the virtuoso cadenza to the final movement. Rautavaara’s Second Cello Concerto Towards the Horizon (2009) was written for cellist Truls Mørk and plays continuously in one 20-minute movement. Reviewing the premiere the Star Tribune noted that the composer “acknowledges a ‘taste for eternity’ and a vain of mysticsm runs through his work.” Einojuhani Rautavaara is recognized as one of the most notable Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius. His recordings on Ondine have been bestsellers and garnered numerous awards (including a recent GRAMMY nomination for his opera Kaivos). Under their chief conductor John Storgårds, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra builds on long-time pedigrees of performing their compatriot’s music.

Rautavaara’s late works continue to reveal the hand of a master with a completely assured technique and a serenely confident personal style. Towards the Horizon, his Cello Concerto No. 2, is an introspective, poetic work cast in large-scale variation form. Like so many modern concertos, its quiet ending may limit its chances of becoming popular in concert, but the quality of the music is never in doubt and the melodic material is truly memorable. To his credit, Rautavaara apportions the majority of the solo writing to vibraphone and marimba, with contrasting episodes given to untuned percussion. The result, effectively varied timbrally, works very well; even the concluding cadenza fits logically into its place in the finale, and does not outstay its welcome. Time will tell if “the percussion concerto problem,” if you accept that there is one, has been solved definitively. Either way, this is a very enjoyable listen.
Modificata belongs to Rautavaara’s early, twelve-tone period (the late 1950s)…they are as characterful or successful as his later works. …Rautavaara fashions distinctive melodic material for each of the piece’s three movements—the quick finale is particularly exciting and successful. …the performances are excellent…the Helsinki Philharmonic under John Storgards does its usual fine job. So, for that matter, do Ondine’s engineers. Very recommendable. -David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday

Tracklist:
Einojuhani Rautavaara (1928)
Cello Concerto No. 2, “Towards the Horizon”*
1. I. Theme – 00:04:06
2. II. Variations of the theme – 00:08:38
3. III. Finale 00:08:32
Modificata
4. I. Praevariata 00:09:00
5. II. Meditatio 00:04:52
6. III. Affectio 00:03:24
Percussion Concerto, “Incantations”**
7. I. Pesante 00:08:09
8. II. Espressivo 00:08:52
9. III. Animato (cadenza by C. Currie) 00:06:43

Personnel:
Colin Currie, percussion**
Truls Mørk, cello*
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
John Storgårds, conductor

DSD64:

mqs.link_RautavaaraMdificataTwardstheHriznIncantatinsHPJhnStrgrds20122016HRADSD64.part1.rar
mqs.link_RautavaaraMdificataTwardstheHriznIncantatinsHPJhnStrgrds20122016HRADSD64.part2.rar
mqs.link_RautavaaraMdificataTwardstheHriznIncantatinsHPJhnStrgrds20122016HRADSD64.part3.rar

FLAC 24/88,2

mqs.link_HelsinkiPJhnStrgardsRautavaara.MdificataTwardsTheHriznIncantatins20122016FLAC2488.part1.rar
mqs.link_HelsinkiPJhnStrgardsRautavaara.MdificataTwardsTheHriznIncantatins20122016FLAC2488.part2.rar