Music Reviews

Classical Picks of the Week - September 17, 2001

 

Jason Serinus

Finish composer Kaija Saariaho (b. 1952) burst onto the international music scene in 1984 when Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra premi�re of her Verblendungen for orchestra and tape. In 1995, Gidon Kremer premiered her Violin Concerto. A year later, Saariaho's two works for soprano Dawn Upshaw, Ch�teau de l'�me for soprano and orchestra, and Lonh for soloist and electronics, premiered at the Salzburg and Wien Modern Festivals respectively.

Now, Sony SK 60817 offers us Salonen, Kremer, Upshaw (in Ch�teau de l'�me), and cellist Anssi Karttunen on one disc, while Na�ve MO 782087 offers Upshaw (in Lonh) and Karttunen plus other soloists in different repertoire. With the presence of such artists, both recordings are definitive. Na�ve also includes a 15-hour interactive CD-ROM which will definitely fill if not make your day.

� Copyright 2001 Secrets of Home Theater & High Fidelity
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