Okko Kamu News
Finnish conductor and violinist
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2024-03-28
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2024-02-29 04:30:00
Susanna Mälkki conducts Sibelius (CD Review)
[…] But here again the punctuating element is dimmed, this time in the pizzicato second violin chords accompanying the dream-like secondary theme’s undulating cello line. To my ears, the finale simply sounds too graceful for an “Alla marcia,” particularly with the knowledge that this music was originally conceived to accompany a tableaux depicting military conquest. Overall, the gestures are too delicate and rounded and the mood overly restrained. I would suggest the wonderful performance by Okko Kamu and the Helsinki Radio Symphony Orchestra (found on Deutsche Grammophon 427 204-2) as an illustrative point of comparison. While lacking Mälkki and the HPO’s finesse, its spirit is unimpeachable.The Lemminkӓinen Legends present a somewhat mixed bag. We’ll start with the good: these performances of The Swan of Tuonela and Lemminkӓinen in Tuonela are among the very best. This is because these movements call more for nuance and contemplation than they do for the kind of virile passion depicted with the […]
2023-04-21 00:00:00
Bruckner, Dvorak, Mahler and Mendelssohn Symphonies [Franz Welser-Möst]
[…] was known to London Philharmonic players during his time as principal conductor. I think these three recordings from EMI defy that epithet. The Bruckner even lays claim to being one of the finest ever recordings of the Fifth Symphony.And I saw and heard Welser-Möst lead a riveting performance of Peter Grimes at Glyndebourne in 1994 in Trevor Nunn's production.Here's another early recording in a rather curious collection; although providing a rare opportunity to hear Okko Kamu as violin soloist in the Sallinen concerto.01 - 04 Antonin Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 in G major, op.88 * [36'52]05 - 06 Aulis Sallinen: Violin Concerto, op.18 ^ [15'42]07 Lars-Åke Franke-Blom: Music for a Mobile ~ [15'37]Okko Kamu- violin^; Norrköping Symphony Orchestra conducted by Franz Welser-Möst*, Sven-Gunnar Andrén^ and Jorma Panula~Swedish Society MAP CD9134 [recorded December 1986*, November 1973^ and April 1978~; download issued 2021][digital download; flacs, cover and inlay scans - no booklet]Recording […]
2021-06-01 00:00:01
Aulis Sallinen: Six Operas and One Chronicle - Okko Kamu & Ulf Soderblom
[…] - Erkki Aalto- bass-baritone;Neighbours: Kaisa - Ulla Majala- alto & Jussi - Harri Nikkonen- bass;Tiina - Helena Salonius- soprano; The vicar - Antti Salmen- tenor; Raappana and Kunilla. A cobbler and his wife - Harri Tirkkonen & Iris-Lilja Lassila- spoken roles;Epra. A man - Kauko Vayrynen- tenor; Pirhonen. A policeman - Tuomo Hakkila- bass;First and Second Child - Susanne Helasvuo & Ilari Angervo- female & male sopranos;Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Okko Kamu Finlandia FACD102 [recorded at Kulttuuritalo Concert Hall, Helsinki, Finland on 8 - 10 November 1979 - recording engineer: Robert de Godzinsky][CD-rip; flacs, booklet, cover and inlay scans] The Red Line 'Punainen viiva' is based on the 1909 novel by Ilmari Kianto (1874–1970). Tthe opera, like the novel, is set in 1907, a watershed year in Finnish history during which its first elections were held, leading eventually to Finnish independence in 1917. The libretto is […]
2020-12-24 05:45:00
Richter: Voices (CD review)
[…] the recording comes across as quite natural and easy to enjoy. There is no harshness on top, but plenty of power on the bottom when needed. All in all, Voices is an unusual composition, but a stimulating and satisfying intellectual, emotional, and musical achievement.Bonus Recommendation: Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen (b. 1935) is hardly a household name, but this BIS recording of three of his works for orchestra by the Malmö Symphony Orchestra conducted by Okko Kamu is well worth an audition. The program opens with Sunrise Serenade, which features trumpeters Kjell-Âke Pettersson and Per Falck. In under eight minutes, this piece creates an atmospheric mood of mystery and anticipation within a spacious sonic setting. Next up is the relatively brief (15:35) Symphony No. 2 (Symphonic Dialogue for Solo Percussion Player and Orchestra), a one-movement composition that highlights the energetic and versatile playing of percussionist Gert Mortensen. But no, the piece […]
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