Esa-Pekka Salonen

Classical Album Review: Pierre-Laurent Aimard Plays Bartók’s Piano Concertos

August 27, 2023
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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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Classical CD Review: Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt plays Salonen and Ravel

April 9, 2022
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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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Classical CD Reviews: Seattle Symphony plays Strauss & Langgaard, Offenbach’s “Folies symphoniques,” and Salonen conducts Beethoven & Strauss

October 22, 2019
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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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Classical CD Reviews: Andris Nelsons conducts Shostakovich, Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Cello Concerto, Project W

May 20, 2019
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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.

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Rethinking the Repertoire #25: Esa-Pekka Salonen’s “Foreign Bodies”

June 11, 2018
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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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Classical Music CD Review: Lutoslawski — The Complete Symphonies, Los Angeles Philharmonic/Esa-Pekka Salonen

July 21, 2013
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It’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.

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Fuse Classical CD Review: “Out of Nowhere” (Leila Josefowicz/Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen)

December 17, 2012
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Now 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.

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Concert Review: Discovery Ensemble/Courtney Lewis at Sanders Theater

December 4, 2012
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Bravo to Courtney Lewis and the Discovery Ensemble for programming Esa-Pekka Salonen’s “Five Images” and pulling off such an engrossing performance.

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Classical CD Review: Shostakovich, Prologue to “Orango” and Symphony no. 4/Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

June 20, 2012
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Orango 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.

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Concert Review: Leila Josefowicz and the Boston Symphony Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen

April 16, 2012
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As 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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