Mikko Raasakka received a Doctorate for Music from Sibelius Academy in 2005 for a study on contemporary Finnish clarinet music. Now his devoted work on behalf of new clarinet compositions can be heard on CD titled Eliangelis – Contemporary Finnish Music for CLARINET(s) (Alba ABCD 368).

The CD contains music by seven Finnish composers. Many of the works have been commissioned or premiered by Mikko Raasakka. These include, for example, Olli Virtaperko’s Glass Orifice (2010), Riikka Talvitie’s Broken Lullaby (2009) and Perttu Haapanen’s Amygdala (2008/2009).  The title piece, Antti Auvinen’s Eliangelis (2005) was commissioned by Asko Heiskanen, but Raasakka worked with Auvinen during the composition process, for example trying out multilevel multiphonics, abundant in the composition.

The works for two clarinets feature clarinetist Gregory Barrett.  The contemporary works are joined together with fragments from Tauno Mattinen’s Illusio (1982); the whole of Marttinen’s piece is heard at the end of the album. 

See also other recent releases:

Jyrki Linjama: Die Geburt des Täufers (Alba ABCD 370) May 2014

Die Geburt des Täufers is a chuch opera commissioned by the Austrian Carinthischer Sommer festival and premiered at the festival in 2010. The whole opera was recorded 2013 in Finland, with Finnish performers and soprano Ursula Langmayr.

Olivier Messiaen: Turangalîla-Symphonie (Ondine ODE 1251-5) May 2014

Record company Ondine continues its collaboration with Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Hannu Lintu with a recording of Olivier Messiaen’s magnus opus Turangalîla-Symhphonie.

Kalevi Aho: Ludus solemnis (BIS-1966) April 2014

Organist Jan Lehtola has recorded Kalevi Aho’s works for organ, including Aho’s arrangement of Bach’s Contrapunctus XIV from  Die Kunst der Fuge BWV 1080. Lehtola is accompanied by horn player Petri Komulainen, trombonist Jussi Vuorinen, violinist Kaija Saarikettu and oboist Anna-Kaisa Pippuri.

Aulis Sallinen: Kullervo (ODE 1258-2T, rerelease of ODE 780-3T) April 2014

Sallinen’s Kullervo was originally recorded even prior to the stage premiere that took place in 1992 in Los Angeles, USA. This re-release marks the production of the opera at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in July 2014.

Osmo Tapio Räihälä: Peat, Smoke & Seaweed Storm (Alba ABCD 367) March 2014

Osmo Tapio Räihälä’s profile CD was released for his 50^th birthday. The orchestral works feature Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, conductors Sakari Oramo and Dima Slobodeniouk, and horn player Jukka Harju and pianist Matilda Kärkkäinen play the solo works in between.

Martinu / Sibelius / Mustonen (BIS-2042) March 2014

Olli Mustonen and Steven Isserlis duo album include three Sonatas for cello and piano by Bohuslav Martinu, as well as two Finnish works: Mustonen’s own Sonata for cello and piano (2006) and Jean Sibelius’ Malinconia, Op. 20.