Live in Concert Wed 18 April - Kalevi Aho

[Guest]

I thought I would mention this concert before it disappears from iPlayer.

World premiere of Aho's percussion concerto "Sieidi" with Colin Currie and the LPO conducted by Vanska.
The programme included the Genoveva Overture of Schumann and Brahms 1st Symphony. Neither of these got other than routine performance, but in my view Aho's concerto is a smash hit! (pun intended).

Unlike so many percussion concertos this is much more than a work-out for an agile drummer, it is very musical and extremely expressive.
I recorded the performance and burned a cd which I have now listened to 4 times. Fine performance of a welcome addition to the repertoire.

If it interests you, do catch it before the iPlayer cut-off.

[bluestateprommer]

Just gave thiis concert a listen. Indeed, the KA percussion concerto is far from being a usual "bash-fest", just from the one hearing I got of it. For a percussion concerto, it's quite mellow, and dare I say lyrical at times. Will be interesting to see where it travels to down the line.

[Curalach]

Glad you caught it bsp. It is already guaranteed two further performances as it was a joint commission between the LPO, The Gothenberg Symphony and the Luosto Festival in Finland. Luosto will be an open air performance with the BBC Phil. There are already moves to get one of the Scottish orchestras to perform it with Currie. I would also expect BIS to record it.
I think it has legs and will join the repertoire, much as MacMillan's Veni Veni has done.

[DublinJimbo]

Many thanks Curalach for drawing attention to this.

This new percussion concerto is certainly impressive, and becomes yet another piece to add to my already long list of Aho favourites. The description of the setup and the spatial aspect of the performance suggests that enjoyment would have been even greater for those present in the hall, but I'll keep an eagle eye out for the eventual recording.

Colin Currie performs here in Dublin twice in the near future. He's soloist in Rautavaara's percussion concerto (Incantations) with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland (Hannu Lintu conducting) on 11th May, and the Colin Currie Group will perform Steve Reich's Drumming as part of the Music in Great Irish Houses Festival on 17th June. Perhaps he'll turn up here again soon with the Aho. That would be good.