Magnus Lindberg: Al largo, Cello Concerto No. 2 & Era Anssi Karttunen

• 1 Al largo 24:53
• 2 I. 09:50
• 3 II. 06:09
• 4 III. 04:59
• 5 Era 20:19
• Total Runtime 01:06:10

Info for Magnus Lindberg: Al largo, Cello Concerto No. 2 & Era

Magnus Lindberg (b. 1958) is among the most important European contemporary voices in classical music. This recording includes some of Lindberg’s most recent orchestral works written during and after his composer-in-residence years with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (2009–12). Lindberg is continuing as the composer-in-residence with the London Philharmonic Orchestra 2014–17.

This recording includes Cello Concerto No. 2 performed by Anssi Karttunen as the soloist and two orchestral works performed by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted by its chief-conductor Hannu Lintu.

Al largo is an extensive work with a duration of over 20 minutes written and dedicated for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and Alan Gilbert. Despite of its title Lindberg himself considers it as the fastest music he has ever written. The title suggest that under the busy surface a large structure is slowly shaping itself.

Cello Concerto No. 2 was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Concerto is re-written, orchestrated and extended version of a chamber work, Santa Fe Project (Konzerstück), which was written in 2006. The Cello Concerto was premiered by Anssi Karttunen, who also plays as soloist in this premiere recording of the work.

The final work on the disc, Era, was commissioned by the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra for its 125th Anniversary in 2013. This work was inspired by the music written during a golden age in music in Europe, just before the outbreak of World War I. The work evolves towards opulent sonorities and bold culminations. The work, also receiving here its premiere recording, has been described as a tone poem, even though it has no narrative content.

“Fine performances, and a composer who never disappoints” (Gramophone Magazin)

Anssi Karttunen, cello
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, conductor

Anssi Karttunen
is one of the most renowned and versatile musicians in the classical music world today and enjoys a busy career as a soloist and chamber music player. He performs on modern cello, classical and baroque cellos and on violoncello piccolo. Anssi Karttunen performs all the standard cello works, but has also discovered many forgotten masterpieces and arranged a number of pieces for cello. He is a passionate advocate of contemporary music and his collaboration with composers has led him to give over 50 world premieres of works by composers such as Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho (including Notes on Light in 2007, which he recorded; ODE 1130-2), Rolf Wallin, Luca Francesconi and Tan Dun.

Anssi Karttunen has worked with outstanding orchestras such as Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony, London Sinfonietta, NHK Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, SWR Symphony Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic, Ensemble Modern, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Residentie Orchestra, Dutch Radio Philharmonic, Dutch Radio Chamber Ochestra, Barcelona Opera Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Swedish Radio Orchestra, Danish Radio Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, RAI Torino, Luxembourg Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic, Avanti! and many others. He performs at major festivals in Europe including Edinburgh, Salzburg, Lockenhaus, Spoleto, Berlin, Venice, Montpellier, Strasbourg and Helsinki.

Anssi Karttunen was born in 1960. His teachers included Erkki Rautio, William Pleeth, Jacqueline du Pré and Tibor de Machula. Between 1994 and 1998, he was Artistic Director of the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra. He was also Artistic Director of the 1995 Helsinki Biennale and the Suvisoitto-Festival in Porvoo, Finland from 1994-1997. From December 1999 to June 2005, Anssi Karttunen was Principal Cellist of the London Sinfonietta. He has also appeared as conductor: in February 2000 he conducted Lindberg's Kraft in Antwerp on short notice and in January 2003 he led the Los Angeles Philharmonic Cello Ensemble. Anssi Karttunen plays a cello by Francesco Ruggeri.

His teachers included Erkki Rautio, William Pleeth, Jacqueline du Pré and Tibor de Machula.

Karttunen plays a cello by Francesco Ruggieri in Cremona circa 1670.

Booklet for Magnus Lindberg: Al largo, Cello Concerto No. 2 & Era