Credits:

Osmo Vanska,Minnesota Orchestra,Lilli Paasikivi,Helsinki University Mens Choir

Description:

A live recording of a concert by Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first Finnish emigration to North America. The program included "Kullervo," in which Sibelius used an episode from the Finnish folk epic "Kalevala" to demonstrate the "Finnish" identity, "The Emigrants" by Olli Kortekangas, and "Finlandia" for chorus and orchestra with Koskenniemi's lyrics. The "Finlandia" was performed in a version for chorus and orchestra with Koskenniemi's lyrics. Olli Kortekangas is one of the most prominent composers working in Finland today. The Migrants was commissioned by the Minnesota Orchestra and Vänskä for his 2014 composition. The work is for mezzo-soprano, male chorus, and orchestra and uses four poems by Sheila Paczka, a poet of Finnish descent and resident of Minnesota whose paternal and maternal grandfathers were both immigrants from Finland. Kullervo" is Osmo Vänskä's second recording of the work; his 2000 recording with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra (BIS 1215) was highly acclaimed for its insight into the deep world of "Kalevala" and became one of the reference discs for this work.This recording features the same mezzo-soprano Lilli Persikivi and the Helsinki University Male Chorus (YL) as on the previous album, with Finnish baritone Tommi Hakala singing clervo. Imported edition with Japanese obi, commentary and lyrics translation.