Jorma Hynninen, the baritone soloist, has served as artistic director for both the Finnish National Opera and the Savonlinna Opera Festival.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Ilkka Kuusisto, the composer, embraces eclecticism, allowing all his assimilated influences and stylistic trends to feature in his compositions.
Performer Biography
Pekka Kuusisto, the violinist on this recording, was the first Finnish player to win the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in 1995.
Composition History
Ilkka Kuusisto's Symphony No. 1 was commissioned by Osmo Vänskä, then principal conductor of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, after hearing Kuusisto jokingly suggest he could compose a symphony if someone ordered one.
Composer Biography
Ilkka Kuusisto initially considered himself a craftsman who wrote music for specific occasions, such as stage music for theatre, liturgical compositions as an organist, and choral pieces as a choral conductor.
Compositional Technique
The Concertino improvvisando, a violin concerto, features improvisatory sections with chord indications, allowing the soloist to bring their own vision to life, reflecting Ilkka Kuusisto's jazz background.
Composition History
The cantata Kun talo alkaa soida (When the house begins to resound) was commissioned by Walton Grönroos, Ilkka Kuusisto's successor as chief executive of the old opera house, for the inauguration of the new Helsinki opera house.
