The Red Violin - Corigliano, Kuusisto: Concertos - Vahala, Kuusisto, Lahti Symphony (2013)

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The Red Violin - Corigliano, Kuusisto: Concertos - Vahala, Kuusisto, Lahti Symphony (2013)

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John Corigliano's violin concerto 'The Red Violin' originated as the score to a film about a violin by one of the Old Italian master-builders, and its journeys around the world throughout three centuries. While working on the film score, Corigliano also produced a one-movement concert version of it, which he later expanded into a full-scale concerto in four movements. The son of a violinist, Corigliano’s aim was to write a concerto in a style his father would have wanted to play, and he has managed to do so without sacrificing any of the music's communicative qualities, or its wealth of colours, emotions and atmospheres. The work is coupled here with a concerto of a similar broad appeal, composed by Jaakko Kuusisto, who is a highly respected violinist in his own right, as well as conductor. In his liner notes, Kuusisto recounts how he had toyed with the idea of writing a violin concerto for several years, but that the project only came into fruition after a commission from his colleague Elina Vähälä, and the liberating prospect of composing a work for another performer than himself. Appearing for the first time on BIS, the acclaimed violinist Elina Vähäla has a wide-ranging career, both geographically and in terms of repertoire. She made her début at the age of twelve, performing as a soloist with the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, which lends her spirited support on the present disc, and also performs the orchestral piece Leika. Using the Icelandic word for ‘play’ as its title, Kuusisto’s composition displays a playfulness and wealth of colours that makes it a perfect curtain raiser for this appealing disc.

Composer: John Corigliano, Jaakko Kuusisto
Performer: Elina Vahala
Conductor: Jaakko Kuusisto
Orchestra/Ensemble: Lahti Symphony Orchestra

Reviews: The name John Corigliano may be familiar but that of Jaakko Kuusisto is probably not. Corigliano's Violin Concerto has been recorded before but Kuusisto's two pieces are new to the catalogue. His website describes him as "one of Finland's most versatile musicians, with a busy schedule as violinist, conductor and composer … his compositions include three operas, several chamber music works, and music for motion pictures."

The first item on the disc is a short orchestral piece entitled Leika. This starts with gently undulating sounds. These are joined by a long-breathed string theme which grows in power. After a dramatic climax the music dies away. Those familiar with English 20th century composers like William Alwyn will recognise the genre and undoubtedly enjoy the work. I certainly did.

Kuusisto's Violin Concerto opens with a cadenza, which is unusual. There is a dramatic exposition with both rhythmic and lyrical elements. A beautiful Lento movement makes much use of high violin writing and develops into a passionate outpouring of feeling with a rich orchestral accompaniment that sounds a touch oriental on occasion. Kuusisto certainly knows how to make fascinating orchestral sounds. This slow movement comes to a haunting end allowing the Molto Allegro finale to make its full impact. The Finale has a gentler central section before an exciting coda. This concerto is an immediately attractive work that really should get performances all over the world. It is not a groundbreaking work as were, say, the concertos by Berg and Stravinsky, but it is music with real audience appeal. It demands and gets a performance of the utmost virtuosity from the spectacularly accomplished Elina Vähälä.

Corigliano's Violin Concerto was derived from his music for the film The Red Violin. It starts with a Chaconne, based on a theme announced by brass and drums. Filigree orchestral sounds accompany the entry of the soloist. Things soon warm up with a lot more energy and drama. Corigliano is very imaginative in his use of this Baroque form and it never sounds anachronistic, indeed it comes over as passionate and deeply felt. The Chaconne was initially performed as a stand-alone work and it was not until later that the composer decided to add the remaining movements and turn it into a fully fledged Concerto. The Scherzo is more acidic in tone but the sounds are fascinating and not at all aggressive. The Andante that follows is positively graceful, a quite lovely invention that runs directly into the Finale. This sounds like a barn dance with lovely crunchy sounds from the solo line, made, say the notes, by pressing on the strings so hard that there is no pitch at all. There is a strongly romantic interlude to balance all this Stravinskian energy and as befits a work of this scale, the Chaconne theme returns to give the piece unity and round things off.

This disc should appeal to those who fear the atonal extremes of modern music. If Berg, Schoenberg and perhaps Bartók are not your thing, but you like the Violin Concertos of Sibelius, Prokofiev and perhaps Stravinsky, then this is very much worth purchasing. It can be classified not as an 'easy' listen but as strongly tonal music with definite tunes and both orchestral and solo thrills. When performed like this, and the word 'perfect' comes to mind with Elina Vähälä's playing, and with a recording as sumptuous and detailed as here, then despite never having heard of either composer you will not regret the purchase. I am glad to be acquainted with this music and will return to it.

The valuable notes are mostly by the two composers. The excellent Lahti orchestra is directed by Jaakko Kuusisto himself. His concerto is dedicated to the soloist Elina Vähälä.