Episode 88. Jorma Hynninen @ 80: A Celebration in Song
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A month ago the great Finnish baritone Jorma Hynninen turned 80, and on May 2, his close artistic collaborator, the Finnish pianist Ralf Gothóni turned 75. We celebrate these two birthdays somewhat belatedly, but no less enthusiastically, with a program comprised primarily of art song, beginning with some choice German Lieder recordings, but ultimately focusing on the songs of their native Finland. We hear Hynninen in performances across the span of his entire career, from 1968 through 2015. Needless to say, their great compatriot Jean Sibelius is foregrounded, but, as is often the case in this country, there are a surprising number of fascinating composers whose work in this genre rewards further exploration. If the music of Oskar Merikanto, Yrjö Kilpinen, Erik Bergman, Selim Palmgren, Fredrik Pacius, Väino Hannikainen, Taneli Kuusisto, or Toivo Kuula is not familiar to you, prepare to be delighted, surprised, and moved by the depth and variety of their creation. Soile Isokoski also joins the gentlemen in an excerpt from Gothóni’s cantata Der Ochs und sein Hirte. And Hynninen gives further evidence of his versatility with performances of pop standards and tango. Hyvää myöhästynyttä syntymäpäivää, Maestri!
RECORDINGS HEARD IN THIS EPISODE
Robert Schumann, Friedrich Rückert: Widmung (Mythen, Op. 25/1). Ralf Gothóni [1979]
Yrjö Kilpinen, Elias Lönnrot Millä maksan maammon maion [How can I repay my mother?], Op. 100/39. Ralf Gothóni [1984]
Toivo Kuula: Aamulaulu [Morning Song], Op. 2/3. Pentti Koskimies [1968]
Kullervo Karjalainen, Toivo Pekkanen: Jäähyvälset [Farewell]. Pentti Koskimies [1972]
Fredrik Pacius, Zacharias Topelius: Kyllikin kosijat [Kyllikki’s Suitors] (Kypron prinsessa [The Princess of Cyprus]). Pentti Koskimies [1980]
Franz Schubert, Wilhelm Müller: Am Feierabend (Die schöne Müllerin, D.795/5) Ralf Gothóni [1989]
Gustav Mahler: Ging heut’ morgen über’s Feld (Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen). Eliahu Inbal, Wiener Symphoniker [1997]
Hugo Wolf, Eduard Mörike: Abschied. Ralf Gothóni [1978]
Oskar Merikanto, Daniel Fallström: Annina. Ralf Gothóni [1975]
Oskar Merikanto, Severi Nyman: Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu [As the Dying Embers Grow Dark], Op. 47/2. Ralf Gothóni [1975]
Oskar Merikanto, J.H. Erkko: Kevätlinnuille etelässä [To the Spring Birds in the South], Op. 11/1. Ralf Gothóni [1984]
Toivo Kuula, V.A. Koskenniemi: Epilogi [Epilogue], Op. 6/2. Ralf Gothóni [1977]
Folk Song, arr. Toivo Kuula: Huuda hautas pohjasta [Shout from the Grave] (South Ostrobothnian Folk Songs, No. 3). Ralf Gothóni [1976]
Folk Song, arr. Väino Hannikainen: Ikävä on olla kartanolla (Karelian Folk Songs, Op. 79/35). Ralf Gothóni [1976]
Folk Song, arr. Taneli Kuusisto: Kehtolaulu [Lullaby] (Savonian Folk Songs, Op. 21/2) Ralf Gothóni [1976]
Selim Palmgren, Gustaf Fröding: Sjöfararen vid milan [The Charcoal Burner]. Ralf Gothóni [1977]
Erik Bergman, Hjalmar Gullberg: Serenad, Op. 35/1. Ralf Gothóni [1977]
Jean Sibelius, Erik Johan Stagnelius: Serenad, JS 168. Jorma Panula, Göteborgs Symfoniker [1985]
Jean Sibelius, Johan Ludvig Runeberg: Flickan kom ifrån sin älkslingsmöte [The Girl Came from Meeting Her Lover], Op. 37/5. Ralf Gothóni [1975]
Jean Sibelius, Josef Julius Wecksell: Var det en dröm? [Was It a Dream?], Op. 37/4. Ralf Gothóni [1980]
Jean Sibelius, Ernst Josephson: Näcken [The Sprite], Op. 57/8. Ralf Gothóni [1980]
Jean Sibelius, Johan Ludvig Runeberg: Norden [The North], Op. 90/1. Ralf Gothóni [1980]
Jean Sibelius, Adolf Paul: Sangen om korsspindeln – Laulu ristilukista [The Song of the Cross-Spider] (King Christian II, Op. 27-4). Verse 1 [in Swedish]: Jorma Panula, Göteborgs Symfoniker [1985]; Verse 2 [in Finnish]: Leif Segerstam, Tampere Phiharmonic Orchestra [1994]
Jean Sibelius, William Shakespeare: Kom nu hid, död [Come away, Death], Op. 60/1. Kalevi Kiviniemi [live Kuusankoski Church, Finland 26 March 2015]
Jean Sibelius, Ernst Josephson: Svarta rosor [Black Roses], Op. 36/1. Kiril Kozlovsky [live Hanko Music Festival 18th July 2014]
Ralf Gothóni: Das Hereinkommenn auf dem Markt mit öffenen Händen (Der Ochs und sein Hirte, No. 10). Soile Isokoski, Ralf Gothóni, Jan Söderblom, Ilari Angervo, Jan-Erik Gustafsson, Marko Ylänen, Heini Kärkkäinen [1994]
Paul McCartney: Yesterday. Heikki Sarmanto [1993]
Cesare Andrea Bixio, Rauni Kouta: Viulut jössä [Violino tzigano]. Markku Johansson, Vantaan Viihdeorkesteri [2000]
