Esa-Pekka Salonen
Ultimately, then, we’ve got something special here: a fresh take on some canonic works by a conductor and soloist whose bread-and-butter is this very fare.
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Cellist Nicolas Altstaed’s recording features a fascinating pairing of pieces by Salonen and Ravel, a stirring reminder of the mysterious powers of common origins and creative invention. Don’t miss it.
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The Seattle Symphony does right by Langgaard but not Strauss; Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Beethoven is micromanaged to death; Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester offers an ideal off-the-beaten-path Offenbach disc.
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Arguably, the strongest entry in the BSO’s complete Shostakovich symphony cycle thus far; Esa-Pekka Salonen’s 2016 Cello Concerto is emotionally direct and, at times, simply gorgeous; the resurgence of interest in the music of Boston-educated composer Florence Price is a good thing.
Read MoreIt’s a pity Witold Lutoslawski’s music isn’t turning up on more orchestral programs in the U.S. this season and next – Benjamin Britten seems to be the centennial birthday boy of choice.
Read MoreNow in his mid-50s, Esa-Pekka Salonen is one of the most interesting and important composers of his generation and the recent attention his music is receiving is well deserved.
Read MoreBravo to Courtney Lewis and the Discovery Ensemble for programming Esa-Pekka Salonen’s “Five Images” and pulling off such an engrossing performance.
Read MoreOrango is one of the tantalizing “what might have been’s” of musical history: a biting social commentary on Soviet society on the fifteenth anniversary of the October Revolution, written when Shostakovich was at the height of his musical powers and popularity.
Read MoreAs the BSO searches for its new music director, Mr. Salonen’s name is sure to come up. While he’s probably a long-shot candidate, any orchestra that has him on their podium for a week or two a season should count itself lucky.
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Rethinking the Repertoire #25: Esa-Pekka Salonen’s “Foreign Bodies”
For a composer who hails from Finland but found his spiritual home in Southern California, Esa-Pekka Salonen’s is a singular musical voice.
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