My only criticism of the current release is that
it is billed as a World Premiere recording and yet it is a re-release
of a disc originally released in 2002. Still, I suppose this still
IS the premiere recording even if this release is its second time
around.
As with the Rautavaara CD I reviewed
recently, if you didn’t buy this disc when it first came out,
make every effort to rectify your omission (provided of course
that you want the repertoire). The two symphonies (in arrangements
by Rudolf Barshai) are fairly well known and these performances
by the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra (only 20 players if the
photograph shows everyone) can hold their own with any of the
competitive versions in the catalogue, and BIS’s recording is
the model of naturalness. I would be happy to recommend this recording
to anyone.
The really interesting find on this disc however
is the Suite on Finnish Themes which has rarely been mentioned
in any of the composer’s correspondence and was unknown until
the manuscript was uncovered in a private collection in St. Petersburg,
only recently. It was written when the composer was out of favour
with the authorities, and remained unperformed until a few years
ago. Apparently, the composer did not choose text to the Folk
Songs, this was done much later by Shostakovich scholar and expert
Manashir Yakubov. The verses were always intended to be sung in
Finnish (perhaps this is why the first performance did not occur
during the composer’s lifetime; Russia and Finland were at loggerheads
during Stalin’s rule. Yakubov searched through texts of Finnish
folksongs until he found texts that fitted the melodies, and this
is what is presented here. There are seven songs altogether, two
of which are instrumental, the remaining five being allocated
between the tenor, Tom Nyman (4) and the soprano Anu Komsi (4).
If you find the arithmetic confusing I must tell you that three
of the songs are shared between both soloists. Both soloists are
first-rate and the folksongs give them tuneful melodies to set
before us. The only problem is that they only last under 12 minutes,
and I for one could have listened to many more.
For the two String Quartet arrangements we have
the well known ones by Rudolf Barshai, who was first in the field
of many (particularly with respect to the 8th Quartet
where there are currently at least six others). There have been
other arrangers, but Barshai’s are perhaps the best known. It
is good to see that this repertoire has been chosen to accompany
the folksongs on this disc as together they make a very satisfying
programme.
Juha Kangas can justifiably be very proud of
his ensemble which does him proud and BIS has supported the enterprise
giving us a transparent, very clear and sonorous recording.
This is part of BIS’s 30th Anniversary
release of recordings and is a re-release of BIS CD 1256. The
disc itself has the earlier number on the booklet and the disc
itself, with the new number on the rear cover and the slip case
– very confusing if you are unaware of what the company has done
to help us celebrate their 30th Anniversary. Very strongly
recommended.
John Phillips
Anu Komsi (soprano),
Tom Nyman (tenor)