Klami: Suomenlinna Overture, Op. 30 / Kalevala Suite, Op. 23 / Lemminkainen's Adventures on the Island of Saari / Sea Pictures
This disc contains Klami's two finest orchestral works:Kalevala SuiteandSea Pictures. This latter work shows Ravel's influence very clearly. Its last movement  sounds just like Boléro sort of played sideways! There are also clear similarities to theRhapsodie espagnole, and it's no disparagement of Klami to say that his music has the same  brilliance and refinement as the French master's. The major work on this disc, however, is theKalevala Suite, an evocation of Finnish mythology that really does rank with the great  achievements of Sibelius. All of these pieces are very well performed and recorded by a fine  Finnish orchestra under the legendary baton of Finnish conductor Jorma Panula. Klami's a terrific  composer. You'll really like him.--David Hurwitz