Catalogue: Details - Ondine

Jorma Hynninen
Elämälle. Songs by Oskar Merikanto

Jorma Hynninen, baritone
Ilkka Paananen, piano

Vocal

Booklet with liner notes and the song lyrics in the original Finnish and in English

Format:
CD

Released:
February 2008 (Finland)
April 2008 (internationally)

Catalogue No.:
ODE 1111-2

EAN/UPC Code:
0761195111123

60:47

Oskar Merikanto (1868-1924)

1

Omenankukat (Apple blossom)

1:22

2

Linnulle kirkkomaalla (To a Bird in the Churchyard)

1:52

3

Suvi-illan vieno tuuli (Summer Evening’s Breeze), Op. 87 No. 2

1:41

4

Muistellessa (Remembering)

3:55

5

Miksi laulan (Why I Sing)

1:11

6

Kullan murunen (Thou art a nugget of gold), Op. 20 No. 1

1:37

7

Merellä (At Sea), Op. 47 No. 4

4:13

8

Myrskylintu (Stormbird)

3:03

9

Laatokka (Lake Ladoga), Op. 83 No. 1

3:30

10

Iltakellot (Evening bells), Op. 106 No. 1

2:37

Haudoilta-sarja (From the Graves)

10:28

11

Valkeat ristit (White Crosses)

2:39

12

Laulaja taivaan portilla (A Singer at the Gate of Heaven)

1:36

13

Käy kirkkomaata illoin (In the Churchyard at Eventide)

4:15

14

Päivännousu kultaa kirkkomaan (Sunrise Gilds the Churchyard)

1:58

15

Hyvästi! (Farewell!), Op. 87 No. 3

1:22

16

Hyvää yötä (Good Night), Op. 75 No. 1

2:22

17

Hämärissä (In the Twilight)

1:26

18

Elämälle! (To Life), Op. 93 No. 4

2:13

19

Annina

3:32

20

Illansuussa (At Nightfall), Op. 69 No. 2

1:57

21

Nocturne (c. 1906)

2:25

22

Balladi (Ballad), Op. 69 No. 4

2:38

23

Nuoruuden ylistys (Praise of Youth)

1:59

24

Soi vienosti murheeni soitto (Play Softly, Thou Tune of My Mourning), Op. 36 No. 3

1:54

25

Ma elän! (I Am Alive!)

1:29

A must-have recital disc.
Opera News, January 2009, The Best of the Year 2008

For everyone who loves the Romantic song literature, this is a must. (...) This is recommended with complete enthusiasm.
Henry Fogel, Fanfare Magazine, September/October 2008

Jorma Hynninen (...) brings great authority to this repertoire.
David Fanning, Gramophone, June 2008

Jorma Hynninen brings to his compatriot's songs a voice of craggy grandeur and an acute sensitivity to colour and atmosphere.
Richard Wigmore, Daily Telegraph, April 19, 2008

Oskar Merikanto composed himself – especially with his songs - into the hearts of Finnish people; Jorma Hynninen makes the same with his masculine, sensitive voice which has still grown richer.
Pentti Ritolahti, Sana, March 6, 2008

Jorma Hynninen is one of the most celebrated Finnish vocal artists. This disc contains the legendary baritone's very personal account of songs by his compatriot Oskar Merikanto (1868-1924). Many of the 25 songs remain to this day among the all-time favourite Finnish songs of any genre (such as the title song of this disc, Elämälle - 'To life').

During his lifetime, Oskar Merikanto was just as popular as Jean Sibelius. He was the co-founder of what would become the Finnish National Opera and composed major contributions to the song and opera repertoire: a real master of melody who incorporated elements of folk music into his works, Merikanto rightly provokes comparisons with such composers as Schubert and Mahler.

Jorma Hynninen has contributed not only to a renewal in the art of interpreting solo songs but also to the creation of contemporary operas by Rautavaara and Sallinen, to name but two composers. His greatest musical love though has always been Lieder, a genre on which he successfully concentrates on this new recording.

Pianist Ilkka Paananen has appeared numerous times together with Jorma Hynninen and is an equally appreciated Lied partner of Elina Garanca, Dilbèr, Matti Salminen and Gabriel Suovanen.

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