Melodia Intima: Complete works for strings and piano by Leevi Madetoja

Description

Melodia Intima album brings together for the first time on record the complete body of Leevi Madetoja’s works for strings and piano.
Violinist Anna‐Liisa Bezrodny, cellist Jan‐Erik Gustafsson, and pianist Mika Rännäli perform the entirety of Madetoja’s chamber music for strings and piano on Melodia Intima, released by Alba Records. This world premiere recording significantly enriches the existing discography of Madetoja’s works, which already includes complete recordings of his orchestral music, operas, solo songs, and piano music.

The double CD offers approximately 100 minutes of chamber music, including the Piano Trio, the Lyyrinen sarja (Lyrical Suite) for cello and piano, and several compositions for violin and piano. Many of these works have long remained in obscurity, and this recording brings them to a wider audience for the first time.

“Madetoja’s chamber music is astonishingly little known, despite its refined lyricism, distinctive sensitivity, and northern light. It was a great joy and honor to bring these works to record for the first time,” says pianist Mika Rännäli, who has also served as the driving force behind the Melodia Intima project.

Anna‐Liisa Bezrodny is an internationally acclaimed violinist who has performed widely as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States.

Jan‐Erik Gustafsson is one of Finland’s leading cellists, renowned both as a soloist and chamber musician. His recordings have received broad international recognition.

Mika Rännäli is one of the most successful Finnish pianists of his generation. Born in Oulu and returning there after 22 years in New York, he has performed extensively across Europe, the United States, Brazil, and Japan. The Melodia Intima album’s primus motor.

The recording has been supported by the North Ostrobothnia Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Leevi Madetoja Foundation, the male choir Pohjan Laulu, the Oulu Opera Association, and 20 private donors. The largest private contributions come from Juha Vidgrén (Vieremä), the Ewing family (New York), and Matti Heikkinen (Oulu).