Search - Esa Ruuttunen, Jorma Hynninen, Juha Kotilainen :: Sallinen: Kullervo

Sallinen: Kullervo
Esa Ruuttunen, Jorma Hynninen, Juha Kotilainen
Sallinen: Kullervo
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (5) - Disc #3

Sallinen is one of the great opera composers of the past few decades, although his first two, Ratsumies (The Horseman) and Punainen Viiva (The Red Line), are sadly out of print at the moment. Kullervo sets a powerfully ...  more »

     
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Sallinen is one of the great opera composers of the past few decades, although his first two, Ratsumies (The Horseman) and Punainen Viiva (The Red Line), are sadly out of print at the moment. Kullervo sets a powerfully tragic Finnish myth that is roughly comparable to the story of Oedipus. The title character is marked by fate to destroy all those closest to him, including his parents and his sister (whom he seduces and who subsequently kills herself). Finally, in a fit of remorse and self-loathing, he kills himself. Much of this opera is "horror-movie music"--static, bleak, and dissonant. It's a powerfully brooding piece of writing, but you have to be prepared to follow along with the text. This excellent performance gives the music maximum immediacy and impact. --David Hurwitz
 

CD Reviews

Sublime. Exquisite Mastery by All Involved
Jan Cambria | Cambria, CA USA | 07/22/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this opera. Had not known his operas, before. We are treated to the mastery of baritone Jorma Hynninen,as Kullervo,bass Matti Salminen as his doomed father,Kalervo & tenor Jorma Silvasti as his brother,Kimmo, who sings the magical closing scene with touching awe. The entire cast is perfection. I wish there were a DVD of this production. One of the enjoyable qualities about Sallinen's composing is that it is accessible without being simplistic. There is total cohesiveness to the music and scenes that bear the feeling of authenticity without kitsch. By its absence, the sometimes egocentric 'look at how clever I am' of contemporary musicians, is put to shame by the intellectual & artistic maturity of the entire undertaking."