Recording of Einojuhani Rautavaara: Symphony No. 7 “Angel of Light” & Annunciations

The HPO under Leif Segerstam recorded Symphony No. 7 by Einojuhani Rautavaara for Ondine in 1996. The disc was voted Record of the Year by the Finnish Broadcasting Company (Yle) and highly acclaimed in the press. Over 30 years earlier, Rautavaara had, incidentally, been the orchestra’s librarian. This was in Hannikainen’s day, from 1959 to 1962.

From the 1990s onwards, the HPO/Segerstam and Ondine have recorded a considerable volume of music by Einojuhani Rautavaara: a dozen or so discs to date. 1997 already saw the release of Rautavaara’s Angels and Visitations, the Violin Concerto & Isle of Bliss, 1999 of On the Last Frontier, the Flute Concerto and Anadyomene, 2001 of Symphony No. 8 and The Journey – Harp Concerto, 2005 of Garden of Spaces, the Clarinet Concerto and Cantus Arcticus, and so it goes on. Alongside the Sibelius records, those of works by Rautavaara thus constitute a major category in the HPO’s discography. Many of the Rautavaara releases have also sold well internationally.

From the days of Jorma Panula onwards, the HPO has also premiered works by Rautavaara and played them on tour.

Source: HPO website