Olli Mustonen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 Olli Mustonen, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra & Ian Bostridge

• Olli Mustonen (b. 1967): Symphony No. 3, "Taivaanvalot":
• 1 Mustonen: Symphony No. 3, "Taivaanvalot": Bars 1–264 (”I have a good mind”) 08:46
• 2 Mustonen: Symphony No. 3, "Taivaanvalot": Bars 265–497 (“Still the sun is not shining”) 08:21
• 3 Mustonen: Symphony No. 3, "Taivaanvalot": Bars 498–684 (“The bird sets about talking”) 06:53
• 4 Mustonen: Symphony No. 3, "Taivaanvalot": Bars 685–end (“He went to Väinämöinen”) 05:54
• Symphony No. 2, "Johannes Angelos":
• 5 Mustonen: Symphony No. 2, "Johannes Angelos": I. The Panagia of Blachernae 06:21
• 6 Mustonen: Symphony No. 2, "Johannes Angelos": II. St. Spyridon’s Day 08:25
• 7 Mustonen: Symphony No. 2, "Johannes Angelos": III. At the Church of the Holy Apostles 12:45
• 8 Mustonen: Symphony No. 2, "Johannes Angelos": IV. Aleo e polis 07:00
• Total Runtime 01:04:25

Info for Olli Mustonen: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3

Composing has always formed an integral part of the artistic life of pianist-conductor Olli Mustonen (b. 1967) and he first emerged as a symphonist in the early 2010s. This album by the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra with Olli Mustonen conducting contains two of his most latest symphonies, both dramatic works firmly rooted and continuing the tradition of the great classical composers. Seeking inspiration from multiple sources, the theme of Mustonen’s 2nd Symphony, ‘Johannes Angelos’ (2013), is the ancient city of Constantinople and its mysticism. Mustonen’s 3rd Symphony, ‘Taivaanvalot’ (Heavenly Lights) (2020) is based on a section in the Finnish national epic Kalevala and inspired by the cosmic and shamanistic elements in Finnish mythology. In this recording, the solo part is being sung by internationally acclaimed tenor Ian Bostridge.

Ian Bostridge, tenor
Turku Philharmonic Orchestra
Olli Mustonen, conductor

Ian Bostridge
Bostridge’s extraordinary international career has taken him to the foremost concert halls, orchestras and opera houses in the world. Synonymous with the works of Schubert and Britten, his recital career has taken him to the Salzburg, Edinburgh, Munich, Vienna, Aldeburgh and Schwarzenberg Schubertiade Festivals and to the main stages of Carnegie Hall, the Bayerische Staatsoper, La Monnaie and Teatro alla Scala. In opera, Ian has received particular praise for his interpretation of Aschenbach Death in Venice at the Deutsche Oper & Peter Quint The Turn of the Screw for Teatro alla Scala. His recordings have won all the major international record prizes and been nominated for 15 Grammys.

Highlights of the 23/24 season include artistic residencies for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and as Duo Artist in Residence at LIED Basel with Julius Drake. His plans include Les Nuits d’Eté with Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg cond. Corinna Niemeyer, St Matthew Passion with Musikkollegium Winterthur cond. Roberto González-Monjas, with Capella Cracoviensis and with Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra cond. Jarosław Thiel, Les Illuminations with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra cond. Madaras, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León cond. Koncz and Evangelist St John Passion with Orchestre national d’Auvergne cond. Henri Chalet, alongside performances with Camerata Bern, the Oberon Trio at the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Les Talens Lyriques with Christophe Rousset at Trifolion Echternach and Compagnia di Punto at the Elbphilharmonie. Elsewhere, Ian undertakes a Japanese concert tour with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra cond. Matthias Bamert, a Korean concert tour of Les Illuminations with the Sejong soloists and repeats his ‘Tormento d’amore’ programme on tour with Capella Neapolitana. Recitals for this season include appearances at the Wigmore Hall with Andreas Haefliger & Dame Imogen Cooper, the Fundação Centro Cultural de Belém with Luís Duarte, the Herbst Theatre and Music and Beyond Festival in Ottawa with Wenwen Du, Shanghai Symphony Hall, Juliusz Sowacki Theatre Krakow & the Beethovenhaus Bonn with Saskia Giorgini, the Settimane Musicali di Ascona Festival with Dame Imogen Cooper, as well as the Stadtkirch Brugg, Theatre Royal Bath, Istituzione Universitaria dei Concerti Rome, LIED Basel & on tour in Japan with long-time collaborator, Julius Drake

Olli Mustonen
has established himself as one of the most exciting pianists of our time. Born in Helsinki, he began his studies in piano, harpsichord and composition at the age of five. His first piano teacher was Ralf Gothóni and he subsequently studied piano with Eero Heinonen and composition with Einojuhani Ratavaara.

Mustonen has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw; and with conductors including Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Berglund, Boulez, Chung, Dutoit, Eschenbach, Harnoncourt, Masur, Salonen, Saraste, Tennstedt, and Vegh. In recital, he frequently plays in the world’s music capitals including London, Vienna, Paris, Tokyo and Berlin, appears at leading festivals such as Ravinia and the Hollywood Bowl, and enjoys significant chamber collaborations with partners including Steven Isserlis, Pekka Kuusisto and Joshua Bell.

As a conductor, Mustonen has appeared at various venues in Europe and works regularly with major Finnish symphony orchestras. He is also the founding artistic director of the Helsinki Orchestra (2001). In 2003, Olli Mustonen was named conductor of the Tapiola Sinfonietta, and from 2006–2009 he was its artist-in-association. Olli Mustonen is known, too, as a composer; a CD featuring his works was released in 2001 by Ondine to critical acclaim. Olli Mustonen’s recording catalogue is typically broad-ranging and distinctive. He has a long-term collaboration with Ondine as a pianist and conductor, which includes the recording of all Beethoven Piano Concertos with the Tapiola Sinfonietta.

The Turku Musical Society
which later formed the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, was founded in 1790. As the oldest orchestra in Finland, the ensemble continues to develop and flourish under the baton of renowned conductors. From 2012 to 2019, the orchestra’s 74 musicians have been under the artistic leadership of Leif Segerstam. The orchestra’s resident composer is Mikko Heiniö.

Several of the Turku Philharmonic’s recordings have been awarded platinum discs and other prizes. In 2019 the orchestra won the International Classical Music Award for Best Collection with their recording of Jean Sibelius’s Incidental Music. In 2009 the orchestra was awarded the EMMA Classical Album of the Year for the recording Transient Moods.

The orchestra gives weekly concerts, often streamed live throughout the world, while its chamber music ensembles perform in the historical venues of Turku. The orchestra also organises family concerts and performs in opera productions. The Turku Philharmonic is a pioneer in audience accessibility, providing access to concerts online in hospitals, residential care homes and schools.

This album contains no booklet.