Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen (b. 1935) celebrates his 80th birthday in 2015. As a tribute, Ondine is releasing the composer’s complete Chamber Music (I-VIII) series. This 2CD set of virtuosic chamber works features performances by, among others, the award-winning Meta4 String Quartet, Jyväskylä Sinfonia, cellist Arto Noras and conductors Ville Matvejeff and Ralf Gothóni, both of whom also appear as soloists. Written between 1975-2009), Chamber Music I-VIII are fascinating, passionate and memorably melodic character pieces, containing dance-like as well as humorous elements.
Arto Noras, cello (III, VIII)
Alexis Roman, alto flute (II)
Meta4 String Quartet (VI)
Antti Tikkanen, violin
Minna Pensola, violin
Atte Kilpeläinen, viola
Tomas Djupsjöbacka, cello
Jyväskylä Sinfonia
Ville Matvejeff, piano (IV) & conductor
Ralf Gothóni, piano (V) & conductor (V, VIII)
Tracks:
CD1:
[1] Chamber Music I, Op.38 for string orchestra (1975)
[2] Chamber Music III, Op. 58
The Nocturnal Dances of Don Juanquixote
for solo cello and string orchestra (1985–86)
[3] Chamber Music V, Op. 80a
Barabbas Variations (2005)
realised for solo piano and string orchestra by Ralf Gothóni from the original work for solo accordion and string orchestra (2000)
[4] Chamber Music VII, Op. 93
Cruselliana
for solo wind quintet and string orchestra (2007–08)
CD2:
[1] Chamber Music II, Op. 41 for alto flute and string orchestra (1976)
[2]-[5] Chamber Music IV, Op. 79 (2000)
Metamorphoses of the Elegy for Sebastian Knight (1964)
for piano and string orchestra
[6]-[8] Chamber Music VI, Op. 88
3 invitations au voyage
for solo string quartet and string orchestra (2005–06)
[9] Chamber Music VIII, Op. 94 (2008–09)
The Trees, All Their Green (To the memory of Paavo Haavikko)
for cello and string orchestra