Episode 250. Julian Long Introduces Jorma Hynninen
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It is a wonderful thing when friends share a favorite singer. Such is the case with my friend of long-standing, Julian Long (once one reaches a certain age, one no longer uses the term “old friend”). As part of this month’s series of Listeners’ Favorites episodes, Julian has been kind enough to record a new intro for a Countermelody episode that I posted three years ago as a birthday tribute to the marvelous Finnish baritone Jorma Hynninen, who on April 3 will celebrate his 83rd birthday. Unlike me, Julian heard Hynninen many times in both opera and, especially, recital. This episode focuses on Hynninen’s prowess as a singer of art song, beginning with some choice German Lieder recordings, but ultimately focusing on the songs of his 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, there are a surprising number of fascinating composers in this magisterial country whose work also rewards 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 Hynninen in an excerpt from the cantata Der Ochs und sein Hirte by Hynninen’s multi-talented pianist Rolf Gothóni, who is heard in many of the selections. The program concludes with Hynninen’s perusal of both pop standards and tango, both sung in Finnish. Don’t mind Julian and me as we go off to individually nurse our mutual crush!
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]
Dear Daniel,
My husband and I loved the Jorma Hynninen episode. A dear, dear friend, who taught us a lot of what we know about vocal music, introduced us to his work, and so we always have a special fondness on our hearts for this thrilling singer.
Thank you so much for everything you do.
Hello dear Francesca, It sounds like you and your husband had a similar experience to Julian Long, who introduced the Hynninen episode, in the revelation of your discovery of his singing! I’m so glad you enjoyed it; I am always surprised that he doesn’t have a larger following, since he is one of the most compelling singers that I have ever heard! All the best, D