Colin Cuurie interview: April 2012

Radiant joy and intense poetry characterise recent works from the pen of Finnish composer Kalevi Aho. His style might continue to adapt and evolve, but he never ceases to make listeners aware of the world in alluring and enlightening ways. Here percussionist Colin Currie unveils the new concerto written for him by Aho in a phone interview with Ben Eshmade. Currie has described the work as 'a very great masterpiece of the genre and an extremely serious contribution to the symphonic literature.' He goes onto say he believes it is 'destined to be a smash with audiences as the music brims with flare, groove and and colour.' Kalevi Aho’s Sieidi; Concerto for Solo Percussion and Orchestra is commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Luosto Classic Festival and Gothenburg Symphony. The April release on the LPO Label is Beethoven's fervent and masterful Missa Solemnis, recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall in 2008. The podcast ends with a preview of the new CD. Christoph Eschenbach conductor Anne Schwanewilms soprano Annette Jahns mezzo soprano Nikolai Schukoff tenor Dietrich Henschel bass Also heard on the podcast: Jennifer Higdon's Percussion Concerto, soloist Colin Currie, conductor Marin Alsop. LPO-0035