Album

This four-disc Ondine set collects the complete concertos of Einojuhani Rautavaara. While these 12 works may not make the best argument for the Finnish post-modernist's status as a great composer—his eight symphonies surely make good that claim—they certainly make the best argument for his status as an amazingly effective, astoundingly diverse, and wonderfully individualistic composer. The works themselves are all from Rautavaara's wide-ranging maturity. There are three piano concertos, one concerto each for violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, organ, and harp, as well as a Ballad for harp and orchestra, plus the sui generic "Cantus Arcticus" for taped Artic bird songs and orchestra. Though the majority of the works are in three movements, each is unlike any other in conception and execution. From the megalomaniacal Piano Concerto No. 1 through the atmospheric Flute Concerto "Dances of the Winds" to the luminous Bass Concerto "Angel of Dusk," Rautavaara never repeats himself. Each work is superbly composed for its chosen soloist; the nearly Romantic Piano Concerto No. 3, "Gift of Dreams," written for Vladimir Ashkenazy, is a prime example. The soloists are always technically impressive, particularly Patrick Gallois' virtuosity on four separate flutes. They are also often emotionally compelling, especially Elmar Oliveira's seamless legato in the Tranquillo that opens the Violin Concerto. Recorded in cool, clear, deep, and very vivid digital sound, this set deserves to be heard by fans of the best of post-modernism.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 4
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Violin Concerto Work Recorded 1996 24:06 Elmar Oliveira Violin, Leif Segerstam Conductor, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Tranquillo	12:48			$1.99
2	2.Energico	11:18			$1.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Cello Concerto Work Recorded 1993 17:24 Max Pommer Conductor, Marko Ylönen Cello, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
3	1.Allegro ma non troppo	5:58			$0.99
4	2.Largo	6:26			$0.99
5	3.Vivace	5:00			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Angel of Dusk, concerto for double bass and orchestra (also version for bass, 2 pianos and percussion) Work 26:14 Jean-Jacques Kantorow Conductor, Tapiola Sinfonietta Orchestra, Esko Laine Double Bass, Tero Latvala Orchestra Leader
6	1.His First Appearance	7:28			$1.49
7	2.His Monologue	8:40			$1.49
8	3.His Last Appearance	10:06			$1.99
CD 2 of 4
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Ballad for Harp and Strings Work Recorded 1993 Reija Bister Harp, Juha Kangas Conductor, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra Orchestra
1	Ballad for Harp and Strings	10:04			$1.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Harp Concerto Work Recorded 2001 23:10 Marielle Nordmann Harp, Leif Segerstam Conductor, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
2	1.Pesante	9:59			$1.49
3	2.Adagietto	5:17			$0.99
4	3.Solenne	7:54			$1.49
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Cantus Arcticus for orchestra and taped bird songs, Op.61 Work Recorded 2004 19:17 Leif Segerstam Conductor, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Suo (The Bog)	6:51			$0.99
6	2.Melankolia (Melancholy)	8:09			$1.49
7	3.Joutsenet Muuttavat (Swans Migrating)	4:17			$0.99
CD 3 of 4
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Flute Concerto ('Dances with the Winds'), Op.69 Work Recorded 1998 22:38 Patrick Gallois Piccolo, Leif Segerstam Conductor, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Andantino	8:24			$1.49
2	2.Vivace	1:43			$0.99
3	3.Andante moderato	7:25			$1.49
4	4.Allegro	5:06			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Clarinet Concerto Work Recorded 2003 25:53 Leif Segerstam Conductor, Richard Stoltzman Clarinet, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
5	1.Drammatico (ma flessibile)	13:24			$2.49
6	2.Adagio assai	7:23			$1.49
7	3.Vivace	5:06			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Annunciations, concerto for organ, brass and symphonic winds Work Recorded 1995 Kari Jussila Organ, Leif Segerstam Conductor, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
8	Annunciations, concerto for organ, brass and symphonic winds	27:22			$3.99
CD 4 of 4
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Piano Concerto No.1 Work Recorded 1990 20:11 Ralf Gothoni Piano, Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Max Pommer Conductor
1	1.Con grandezza	9:37			$1.49
2	2.Andante	7:24			$1.49
3	3.Molto vivace	3:10			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Piano Concerto No.2 Work Recorded 1989 22:07 Ralf Gothoni Piano, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Jukka-Pekka Saraste Conductor
4	1.In viaggio	5:24			$0.99
5	2.Sognando e libero	11:33			$1.99
6	3.Uccelli sulle passioni	5:10			$0.99
Einojuhani Rautavaara Composer Piano Concerto No.3 ('Gift of Dreams') Work Recorded 1999 27:47 Vladimir Ashkenazy Piano, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra
7	1.Tranquillo	9:58			$1.49
8	2.Adagio assai	11:51			$1.99
9	3.Energico	5:58			$0.99