Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Reijo Tunkkari, Juha Kangas: Nostalgia - Lyrical Finnish Music for Strings (SACD)

Central Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchestra
Reijo Tunkkari, violin
Juha Kangas, conductor
Kajanus: Lullaby of the Screaming Man
Sibelius: Impromptu - Romance, C major - Presto
Järnefelt: Early in the Morning - Lament of the Forsaken
Melartin: Canzone
A.Merikanto: Canzona
Raitio: Romance - Serenata
Klami: Lullaby - Sonatine
Kaski: Wordless song
Madetoja: Elegy
Kuula: Wordless song, Ostrobothnian folk song
Haapalainen: En voi sua unhoittaa poies
"The small string ensemble plays amazingly in unison, and more emphasis has been placed on the purity of the harmonies than on normal evenness. The weight of a large orchestra and the responsiveness of a string quartet combine in a way that elevates the small pieces on the album to a musically higher level. In Reijo Tunkkari, the orchestra has a world-class soloist."

Kare Eskola / Yle 1 New Releases

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"The interpretations of the Central Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchestra conducted by Juha Kangas are the world's best combination of rigidity and sensitivity. The spacious and softly humming surround recording guarantees the album's hit potential."

Jukka Isopuro / Helsingin Sanomat

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Thought-provoking string poetry

"The extensive and excellent discography of the 40-year-old Central Ostrobothnia Chamber Orchestra was supplemented with a breathtakingly beautiful ensemble of Finnish string orchestra miniatures [...]

The miniature form blossoms with the nostalgia assumed by the album title, but even more with a genuine Finnish longing. The chamber orchestra, led by Juha Kangas, creates a true art of condensation from miniature paintings that suggest subtle visions, because even in a small space they exude oppressive, lyrically stretching emotional charges. The orchestra spreads out singingly and firmly mistily vibrating sordid landscapes and horizons of a sinking soft legato line.

[...] Reijo Tunkkari's violin solos give a gestureless, lovingly lyrical voice to the speakers of these lullabies, serenades and elegies."

Auli Särkiö / Rondo Classic

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"There is nothing to be gained in attempting to comment on each work as repetition would set in. They are, without exception, very enjoyable. […] If you are after well-crafted melodious works, this is a really quite excellent collection. I will, however, highlight two works that really stood out with their imaginative variety of textures and rhythms. As it turned out, they were both by the same composer - Väinö Raitio […] Concertmaster Tunkkari takes the Solo role in a number of the pieces with great feeling. […] The sound is good…”

David Barker / MusicWeb International

FORMAT: SACD