Rautavaara: Symphonies

 

If you wish to see my individual reviews from the four volumes of this set, head on over to Rautavaara's composer page (BLOG), where I explore the symphonies in more detail.

While the four symphonies from the 1950s and 1960s worried me, I couldn't have been happier with Rautavaara's Symphonies 1 & 3 in particular. As a matter of fact, I think the composer's First Symphony comes around full circle to the approach heard in his last two symphonies, although Rautavaara's constant tinkerings later in life might have had something to do with that. I might be able to come around to Symphony no. 2 if I spent much more time with it, learning its musical patterns, but I think I have written off the atonality of Symphony no. 4 altogether. Such a dismissal is not a quality I care from myself, but that was music which was hard to love.

Some 20 years later, Rautavaara came back in strong form in Symphony no. 5, which exhibited aleatoric elements and moved in stranger, although not off-putting ways. The tribute to Vincent van Gogh in Symphony no. 6 from the 90s was even better, even though it utilized many of the same musical effects of No. 5, and the addition of synthesizer created a new, otherworldly effect. Finishing off the 1990s, Symphonies 7 and 8 were the best of the lot, the composer finally finding a compositional voice which finally won over the public after decades and decades.

If I must pick favorites, probably Nos. 1, 6, and 8 rank towards the top, Nos. 3, 5, and 7 not too far off, but of varying qualities for these old ears, and Nos. 2 & 4 needing more time from me as a listener. Whether or not I give those last-place works the time of day will depend on life.

The performances here are perfectly fine, with Leif Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra sounding strongest in the last two symphonies. Also, Mikko Franck is given the First Symphony over Max Pommer's earlier version, and that was a good choice on the part of Ondine. One wishes Segerstam's performance of Symphony no. 3 would have made the cut, as it appeared just before this set was released, especially since Max Pommer and his Leipzig players were in rough quality in that symphony.

So, Ondine's symphony set is not a runaway success, but then neither are all of Rautavaara's symphonies. I like to hear a perspective of a composer's career, so I don't mind a few duds along the way, if it provides me a glimpse of a composer. For most though, it would probably be best to sample here and there before investing in a whole set, for Rautavaara's style changes over the course of 50 years. Certainly the composer's music is modern, but at his best, his modernism is strangely appealing and should attract to a larger audience.

The physical media from Ondine is quality, although the liner notes do very little in the way of giving any lasting impression as to the background of the composer and his music. Perhaps if one were truly interested, a listener could invest in the original separate releases for more information. Of course, the internet is out there to scrounge too.

 

 

 

Works
Vol. 1: Symphony 1 & 2 (49.04)
Vol. 2: Symphony 3 & 4 (49.09)
Vol. 3: Symphony 5 & 6 (73.43)
Vol. 4: Symphony 7 & 8 (67.10

Ensembles
Belgium National Orchestra (1)
Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra (2-5)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra (6-8)
    Mikko Franck (Belgium)
    Max Pommer (Leipzig & Helsinki)

    Leif Segerstam, conductor (Helsinki)

Label: Ondine
Year: 1990 - 2001; 2009 (set)
Total Timing: 3.59.06

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