Rautavaara: Symphony No. 7 "Angel of Light"
To get to the second piece on this CD first, "Angels and Visitations" is Rautavaara at his darkest and most mysterious (the work was inspired by the composer's childhood dreams). It isn't exactly tonal--melodies and motifs pile up on one another disturbingly--but it's not rehashed Romanticism, either. It's a unique blend, and the menacing lower strings are offset by the calming upper ones; insane brass interruptions are as interesting as the occasional background bells. The Seventh Symphony is an altogether different matter. It floats along, sometimes evoking nature at its most benign (a flute and harp interlude in the first movement, horns and woodwinds in the third), sometimes at its most unpredictable (in the brass throughout). The playing of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra is excellent, and Hannu Koivula clearly understands Rautavaara. IfLeif Segerstam's performancesof these works (on Ondine) are a bit more potent, well, Naxos's price--less than half--makes up for that potency. Rautavaara is a great composer, easy to get to know and fascinating. Recommended.--Robert Levine