Aho: Moonlight Concerto; Alto Flute Concerto - SACD

This recording is dedicated to two recent concertos byKalevi Aho, one of Finland's foremost contemporarycomposers. The author of a body of work as importantas it is varied, Aho enjoys collaborating with exceptionalsoloists, for whom he composes works that highlighttheir musical qualities, inventiveness and personality.The Concerto for Alto Flute and Strings features aninstrument with a soft tone, well suited as a soloist witha small orchestra of strings alone. The work is in sixmovements played without interruption, and the soloist,Sharon Bezaly, sometimes switches to the bass flute,which brings a mystical feel to the music. The St MichelStrings and their conductor, Erkki Lasonpalo, contributeto the mysterious atmosphere in which lyrical anddramatic episodes abound.The Double Concerto for Viola, Percussion andOrchestra, entitled 'Moonlight Concerto', was composedat the initiative of a Berlin-based musician couple, violistHiyoli Togawa and percussionist Alexej Gerassimez.Here we are immersed in a Japanese atmosphere thatreveals echoes of the 1,000-year-old tradition ofritualistic gagaku music. In this work, the percussionistplays instruments that are not usually heard inorchestral concerts, such as the moon gong, thewaterphone, a hang drum and nine Thai gongs. TheLahti Symphony Orchestra, conducted by AnjaBihlmaier, provides the rich orchestral commentary.