South by Northeast

Juhani Lagerspetz · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · Jouni Kaipainen · Hannu Lintu

2025 · Physical and digital · ABCD 472

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Credits

Performers: Juhani Lagerspetz — PianoTampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Composers: Jouni Kaipainen
Conductors and other contributors: Hannu Lintu — Conductor

About this release

Jouni Kaipainen (1956–2015) was a connoisseur of new Finnish music and a renaissance figure who, despite his untimely death, managed to create a rich and wide-ranging compositional output. The Tampere Philharmonic was the "second family" of Kaipainen, who moved from Helsinki to Tampere, and the home orchestra that premiered many of his big works in the 2000s. He composed several works for the orchestra, including symphonies, concertos and chamber music works. The close cooperation with the Tampere Philharmonic enriched the repertoire of both the orchestra and Kaipainen and brought the composer's music to the awareness of a wider audience.
On the now released album, the orchestra is led by the composer's trusted maestro Hannu Lintu, who served as chief conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic in 2009–2013. Lintu, who has had a significant international career as a conductor, has also taken Kaipainen's music to the world.
The album SOUTH BY NORTHEAST, released on May 20, 2025, contains Kaipainen's piano concerto, interpreted by pianist Juhani Lagerspetz. This is the monumental Piano Concerto op. 55 first recording. Lagerspetz and the Radio Symphony Orchestra premiered the piece in 1997.
In addition to the piano concerto, the album offers Kaipainen's work North by Northeast, which was commissioned by the Nordic Music Council. The title refers to Alfred Hitchcock's hit film Dangerous Romance (1959), where you end up fighting for the giant presidential sculptures of Mount Rushmore in the United States. In Kaipainen's composition, the transition from the city to the middle of nature takes place in Finland, and the outlined journey could start on a train from Helsinki or Tampere towards the northeast, the korpi regions of Savo-Karelia. The tour guide seems to have been Sibelius and his Tapiola.
In the album's closing track, Aubade beninoise, the composer unleashed his positive culture shock caused by his trip to Africa. The song takes listeners to the whirlwinds of Finnish shamanism through West African rhythms.

Tracks

Piano Concerto, Op. 55
1.I Allegro con spirito, ma un poco nervosocomp. Jouni KaipainenISRC FIABA230013715:53
2.II Larghetto - Largo misteriosocomp. Jouni KaipainenISRC FIABA23001388:31
3.III Allegro con brio – Meno allegro, ma con slancio – Molto allegrocomp. Jouni KaipainenISRC FIABA23001397:56
Piano Concerto (Pianokonsertto), Op. 55
4.North by North-East Op. 63comp. Jouni KaipainenISRC FIABA230014012:03
5.Aubade beninoise, Op. 86b, Beniniläinen aamulaulucomp. Jouni KaipainenISRC FIABA23001418:52

Reviews

This beautifully played and recorded release is a most welcome addition to Kaipainen’s discography. It is a must for any admirer of this endearing composer whose music is still too easily ignored. I for one hope that this superb release will prompt others to investigate his generous, sincere and deeply felt music. © 2025
MusicWeb International
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MusicWeb International · Hubert Culot · July 23, 2025
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Whether or not pianist Juhani Lagerspetz had to soak his fingers in cold water after these sessions, he gives the impression of revelling in the music.
Gramophone · Andrew Mellor · July 14, 2025
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At long last, this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know relatively recent works by a composer whose far-from-negligible output is too often overlooked and has still to receive its due. Kaipainen’s output is quite sizeable in spite of her untimely death and much of it still awaits recording. It is to be hoped that this beautifully performed and engineered disc will kindle some kindle new interest in her never-indifferent music. © 2025
MusicWeb International
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MusicWeb International · Hubert Culot · December 19, 2025
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There is precious little Kaipainen on record, and these are fully engaged performances from Hannu Lintu and the orchestra of the composer’s home town with which he was composer-in-residence for over a decade.
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/kaipainen-south-by-northeast
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Hurja, runsas ja rönsyilevä, täynnä värejä ja voimaa, äkillisiäkin käänteitä ja viehkeyttä.
Kikka Holmberg, Kulttuuritoimitus
06.06.2025
Kaipainen: South by Northeast (Alba)
Kulttuuritoimitus · Kikka Holmberg