Sibelius, Merikanto

A feast from Finland. Two powerful pieces for soprano and orchestra join a couple of Sibelius’s symphonies, works of very different natures. 

Twenty-five years separate Sibelius’s Second and Seventh symphonies, but that hardly hints at the growth in his musical style ­– No 2 rich and romantic; No 7 a powerful study, in one movement, of organic musical growth. Both form part of Sakari Oramo’s ongoing Sibelius symphony cycle. Luonnotar from mid-way between the two is a magical creation-story for soprano and orchestra and finds Anu Komsi the soloist in a work premiered in Gloucester no less! Aarre Merikanto’s Ekho (1922), a perfect, beautiful work makes an ideal partner to Luonnotar – and Komsi is a superb exponent of this vocally taxing score having already made a magnificent recording of the piece.