Symphonies 1 & 3

Turku Philharmonic Orchestra · Aarre Merikanto · Petri Sakari

2011 · ABCD 336

Credits

Performers: Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Composers: Aarre Merikanto
Conductors and other contributors: Petri Sakari — Conductor

About this release

Aarre Merikanto (1893-1958)
Symphonies 1 & 3
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Petri Sakari conductor
Historical recording
The new album by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Petri Sakari features the world premieres of Aarre Merikanton's Symphony No. 1 & Symphony No. 3, one of the most important composers in Finnish history.
Merikanto wrote the first symphony twice: The premiere took place in November 1914, but the symphony was destined to be completely rewritten.
Symphony No. 3 should not be confused with Fantasia for Orchestra (1923), which the composer called his third symphony for a long time. For the main performance, Merikanto himself wrote an electronic message-style comment about the third symphony: "The symphony is a triumph for the woodwinds. The accompaniment pattern of the singing beginning of the II part is derived from the I part, and the main theme of the Finale from the side theme of the I part. The work aims to be, both in terms of content and orchestration, something different from what the composer has previously created."

Tracks

Symphony No. 1 in B minor Op. 5 (1914-1916)
1.I Allegrocomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA11006159:31
2.II Scherzo fantastique: Vivacecomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA11006168:06
3.III Andante con motocomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA110061717:27
4.IV Allegro vivacecomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA110061812:47
Symphony No. 3 (1952-1953)
5.I Scherzo: Vivacecomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA110061910:08
6.II Andantecomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA11006207:17
7.III Allegrocomp. Aarre MerikantoISRC FIABA11006214:40

Reviews

The strongest possible case for this music is provided by the excellent orchestra under Petri Sakari’s direction.
ClassicalCDReview.com · Robert Benson · September 5, 2012
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The
First Symphony
blends Sibelius’ nationalistic romantic writing with more zest and strong melodies than normally heard in Sibelius. The work’s
Scherzo
is rather skittish and the
Andante
movement mixed influences of Sibelius with Rimsky-Korsakov. The finale moves along at a heady clip, with strong nationalist and folksy tones a la Sibelius. But Merikanto occasionally shows a sense of humor, of which Sibelius seems devoid.
Those who like Howard Hanson’s and Randall Thompson’s…
Audiophile Audition · John Sunier · October 3, 2012
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Performances and interpretations are excellent, with clean recorded sound.
American Record Guide · Don O’Connor · January 28, 2013
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”The Turku Philharmonic Orchestra give superbly articulated performances of both works and Sakari clearly has the measure of Merikanto’s symphonism.”
Guy
Gramophone · Guy Rickards
”Merikanto’s First Symphony is in a post-Sibelian vein of epic nationalism, and his Third exemplifies his late, tango neo-classism. Superb premiere recordings.”
**** (Four stars)
CM / BBC Music Magazine
”[…] Kumpikin on herkullista, menevää ja värikästä mutta samalla läpikuultavaa musiikkia, josta akateeminen sinfonisuus pidetään etäällä. Turun filharmoninen orkesteri tyylittelee Merikannon sointivärikokeilut ja tanhumukaelmat kirkkaasti ja sujuvasti.”
Kare
Rondo · Kare Eskola
Aarre Merikanto nuorena ja vanhana
”[…] Nautintohakuinen soitinnus, tanhumainen menoisuus ja leveä melodisuus ovat yhteistä, vaikka varhaissinfonia varovasti enteileekin Juha-oopperan karjalais-ekspressionistisia sävyjä, kun taas myöhäissinfonia on uusklassisesti solakampi. Musiikki etenee huolettoman tuntuisesti, hetken hurmassa tai aistillisiin tunnelmakuviin pysähtyen, vailla suurta sinfonista poltetta. Esitykset ja monikanavaäänitys palvelevat erinomaisesti teosharvinaisuuksia.”
Jukka
Helsingin Sanomat · Jukka Isopuro
Aarre Merikanto died one year after the death of his internationally acclaimed countryman, Jean Sibelius. Unlike Sibelius, Merikanto kept writing throughout his life; indeed the Third Symphony dates from just five years before his death.
MusicWeb International
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