From: apter@fid.morgan.com (Steve Apter)
Subject: Re: QUERY ABOUT NEW OPERA
Organization: Morgan Stanley & Co., New York, NY
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:19:53 GMT

In article <BzDq57.JCH@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> smitra@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Sami Mitra) writes:
>In article <1992Dec16.222910.3090@fid.morgan.com> apter@fid.morgan.com (Steve Apter) writes:
>>In article <BzDGGC.5LA@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> smitra@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Sami Mitra) writes:
>>>
>>>This week, last night here, George Jellineck introduced a new Finnish
>>>opera in his program The Vocal Scene. I caught snatches of it and
>>>didn't get the name of the composer (a Swedish friend wondered if it
>>>was Sallinen). He played excerpts from a performance given in LA,
>>>earlier this year I think, but I don't remember the name of the
>>>conductor either (it was not Esa Pekka Salonen). Most of the cast was
>>>Finnish, but the only name I recognized was Matti Salminen's.
>>>
>>>Anyhow, the opera is called KOULLERVO(sp?) and is based on the
>>>Finnish mythical figure of that name. It is to be performed at the
>>>opening of the new opera house in Helsinki late next year.
>>>
>>>Does anyone know where I can get more information about this work?
>>>Presumably a recording exists, Jellineck had it from some source
>>>after all. Does anyone know anything of this broadcast recording or
>>>any other recording? I shall, in the meantime, try to get these
>>>answers from other sources as well.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>				Sami Mitra
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>Sallinen's _Kullervo_ appeared on the Finlandia label a few months ago.  
>>You liked what you heard?
>>
>	Yes, I did quite like the excerpts I
>heard. This was somewhat late in the evening
>and the broadcast didn't have my full attention,
>and I wish I had taped the stuff. But I was
>rather impressed by the closeness of the music
>to Russian works (in the vein of the vocal
>writing of Shostakovich) and the somewhat
>Germanic feel. I am sure that is a consequence
>of the work being in Finnish, and the fact that
>I am not familiar with Finnish vocal music. I
>need to listen to the work, in its entirety, a
>few more times, but I must say the first
>impression was definitely very positive!
>	Do you have any other specific
>information about this Finlandia release you've
>mentioned? The local record store is fairly
>efficient here but one needs to spell out all the
>details. Has the opera been released in the US.
>What's the orchestra and the conductor?
>	Do you like the opera?
>
>
>				Sami Mitra


The set (I think there are three disks) was released in the US
about 6 months ago.  I don't have the catalog information, but
it's probably listed in the most recent Opus/Schwann.  Finlandia
is only medium-obscure, as labels go.

I haven't heard _Kullervo_, or indeed any of Sallinen's operas
(by my count, there are three or four others, also on Finlandia,
as well as a half-dozen or so disks of orchestral and chamber
music on various other labels.) 

So much interesting music has emerged from the northern countries
in the past few years, that I have not found time to give Sallinen
the attention he no doubt deserves, but based on what I've heard
so far -- orchestral works from different points in his career --
I have the impression of a technically gifted composer, but one
who is neither arrestingly original nor deeply inspired.  Perhaps
_Kullervo_ could change my mind.

Two Nordic composers who do interest me greatly, however, are
Rautavaara and Kokkonen.  Two operas of Rautavaara's are available
on the Ondine label:  _Vincent_ and _Thomas_, the former a series
of hallucinatory tableaux drawn from the life of van Gogh.  These
are extraordinary works, and I do recommend them unreservedly.  I
can also recommend _Last Temptations_ by Kokkonen, on Finlandia.
The orchestral writing is gorgeous.







Newsgroups: rec.music.classical