The repertoire and emotional core of the album is built around themes of gratitude, remembrance, and musical dialogue. Jaakko Kuusisto’s (1974–2022) Cello Concerto Op. 38 (2018–2019) receives its world premiere recording. Dedicated to cello legend Arto Noras, the three-movement concerto features the soloist accompanied by a string orchestra and a percussionist alternating between snare drums and vibraphone. The still, wintry soundscape of the middle movement has been aptly compared to the atmosphere of Kuusisto’s acclaimed opera Ice. Opening the album is Kuusisto’s Wiima Op. 27 for string orchestra (2011)—adapted by the composer from his Play III string quartet—which represents a stylistically broader expression, introducing modernist, improvisational chord progressions into simple harmonic structures.
The bridge between Nordic contemporary music and classical tradition is deepened by two other premiere recordings inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven's string quartets. Swedish composer Mats Larsson Gothe's (b. 1965) string orchestra work Ringraziamenti (2022) draws its inspiration from the slow movement (Heiliger Dankgesang) of Beethoven's A minor quartet, Op. 132. Larsson Gothe has created a diatonic work in the ancient Lydian church mode, utilizing the white keys of the piano entirely without chromaticism, save for a single C-sharp. English-born Sally Beamish's (b. 1956) Opus California (1999, string orchestra version) takes the themes and bridge passages of Beethoven's C minor quartet, Op. 18 No. 4 as its starting point, developing them through the lens of jazz and contemporary American musical language.
World-Class Artistry
Founded in 1972, the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra (OCO) is internationally renowned for its homogeneous sound and dynamic impact. Having premiered over 200 works, the professional ensemble has established itself as a leading force in promoting Finnish and Nordic contemporary music.
Swedish violinist and conductor Malin Broman served as the Artistic Director of the OCO from autumn 2019 to spring 2026. An elected member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and a highly sought-after soloist and leader, she is currently the musical director of the Nordic Chamber Orchestra and artist-in-residence with the Västerås Sinfonietta.
Cellist Jan-Erik Gustafsson is one of the most internationally sought-after Finnish soloists and chamber musicians. He has performed with leading symphony and chamber orchestras worldwide and has served as the Artistic Director of the Korsholm Music Festival since autumn 2022. On this recording, Gustafsson plays a Stefano Scarampella cello built in 1890.
