Kuula: Complete Piano Music

Featuring

Jouni Somero
Toivo Kuula

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Performer Biography

Jouni Somero has an extensive recording career, with about 100 discs for various labels, including world premiere recordings of works by Felix Blumenfeld, Benjamin Godard, Hans Seeling, and Hugo Reinhold.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Toivo Kuula is known as a colorful and passionate portrayer of Finnish nature and people, with a Swedish critic noting his music reaches deep parts of the human spirit.

Composer Biography

Toivo Kuula, the composer, was a Finnish conductor and composer born in Vaasa when Finland was a Grand Duchy under Russian rule.

Performer Biography

Jouni Somero studied piano in Switzerland and at the Music Academy in Cologne, and gained deeper insight into Liszt's music under the legendary Hungarian pianist Georges Cziffra.

Performer Biography

Jouni Somero, the pianist on this album, is one of Finland's most active musicians, having given over 3,000 concerts worldwide.

Historical Context

Toivo Kuula died in 1918 after being mortally wounded by a bullet fired during a quarrel at a victory celebration of the white victory in the Finnish Civil War.

Composition History

This album includes six previously unrecorded works by Toivo Kuula: three early pieces, two sketches, and the composer's piano arrangement of 'Juhlamarssi'.