Ismo Eskelinen: Concerto Quintet & Contrapunctus – SUPER-AUDIO CD

Title: Concerto Quintet & Contrapunctus
Artist: Ismo Eskelinen
Label: Bis
Product Type: SUPER-AUDIO CD
UPC: 7318599926667
Genre: Classical
Release Date: 2024-05-24
Number of Discs: 1
Additional Details: HYBRID SACD

Although the Finnish composer Kalevi Aho is best known as a symphonist, his constantly expanding catalogue includes numerous concertos as well as countless chamber works and arrangements of works by other composers. This disc brings together works from these three genres.The Guitar Concerto, dedicated to Ismo Eskelinen, posed many challenges for Aho, who is not a guitarist himself. It is a seven-movement work exploring the different ways the guitar can be used – sometimes with far from traditional techniques – and exploring it’s sonic possibilities. The Quintet for Horn and String Quartet was commissioned by Ilkka Puputti, who had previously premiered Aho’s Solo X for horn. Particularly demanding for the soloist, the quintet explores various atmospheres, in turns mysterious, whimsical, dramatic and dance-like. Contrapunctus XIV from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Art of the Fugue was left unfinished owing to the composer’s declining health. As he was dissatisfied with previous attempts to complete it, Aho decided to write his own, aiming to remain true to Bach’s style. This completion exists in several versions, including the one for string orchestra heard here, expertly performed by the Lapland Chamber Orchestra conducted by John Storgards.

Tracks:
1.1 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~I. Introduzione –
1.2 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~II. Allegro molto –
1.3 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~III. Interludio –
1.4 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~IV. Andante cantabile –
1.5 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~V. Misterioso –
1.6 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~VI. Presto –
1.7 Concerto for Guitar and Chamber Orchestra~VII. Epilogue
1.8 Quintet for Horn and String Quartet~I. Misterioso –
1.9 Quintet for Horn and String Quartet~II. Con moto
1.10 Quintet for Horn and String Quartet~III. Adagio
1.11 Quintet for Horn and String Quartet~IV. Vivace
1.12 Kunst der Fuge~Contrapunctus XIV for string Orchestra