Spring Music
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Label: Gallo
Magazine Review Date: 12/1994
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 65
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: CD-656
Author:
As RL has pointed out in these pages before (7/88, 8/94), the Finnish composer Uuno Klami (1900-61) escaped the overbearing dominance of Sibelius's style only to ''fall for the intoxicating draughts of Ravel, early Stravinsky and Florent Schmitt''. Ironically, he was never able to shake off entirely his great compatriot's influence either, as can be heard in Lemminkainen's Island Adventures (1934, here recorded for the first time), where decidedly Sibelian thematic material is made to jump through some very unSibelian hoops. The work originally formed part of Klami's Kalevala Suite, but proved too large in dimensions (at 11 minutes) and, I venture to suggest, too uneven in quality (Sibelius's Lemminkainen cycle was almost unknown at this time).
For various reasons the ballet Whirls (1957–61) was never completed, despite the First Act being awarded a prize in 1958. There is much of incidental delight in the two suites he extracted from this last major project, but if the music truly represents the extreme of Klami's progressive tendencies then his idea of progressive seems to have been to swap Ravel for Prokofiev as stylistic model. The Song of Lake Kuujarvi (1956), another late work, is a different proposition altogether, its greater depth of feeling prompted by memories of his experiences in the Winter and Continuation Wars (1939–45). Esa Ruuttunen's rich baritone is ideal for this music, ably accompanied by Vanska and the Lahti players who maintain their high standards from previous discs throughout. A worthwhile issue in any case, the emphasis on the output of Klami's last decade makes this one of unusual interest.'
For various reasons the ballet Whirls (1957–61) was never completed, despite the First Act being awarded a prize in 1958. There is much of incidental delight in the two suites he extracted from this last major project, but if the music truly represents the extreme of Klami's progressive tendencies then his idea of progressive seems to have been to swap Ravel for Prokofiev as stylistic model. The Song of Lake Kuujarvi (1956), another late work, is a different proposition altogether, its greater depth of feeling prompted by memories of his experiences in the Winter and Continuation Wars (1939–45). Esa Ruuttunen's rich baritone is ideal for this music, ably accompanied by Vanska and the Lahti players who maintain their high standards from previous discs throughout. A worthwhile issue in any case, the emphasis on the output of Klami's last decade makes this one of unusual interest.'
Spring Music
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