Known for his orchestral output - 16 symphonies and 21concertos to date! - Finnish composer Kalevi Aho wasrecently described in Gramophone as having 'a strong claimto the title of greatest living symphonist'. But Aho has also composed a large number of works forsmaller forces - quartets and quintets, duos and solo pieces. On the present disc, the Finnish pianist Sonja Fraki presentsAho's output for solo piano, comfortably fitting on one disc,but nevertheless spanning some 30 years of a long career. The disc opens with his earliest published work, theNineteen Preludes from 1965-68, written before thecomposer had begun any formal studies of eithercomposition or the piano. As in much of his other music, the works for piano displayhis characteristic fascination with the virtuosic andtechnically brilliant side of music-making. On the present disc, this quality comes to the fore in theSonata, with it's sparkling first movement and percussive,toccata-like second movement followed by a searchingTranquillo molto, characterized by a trill which continuesalmost without interruption throughout the movement. Solo II is likewise a challenge for any pianist, forming partof a series of big (roughly ten-minute) solo works for variousinstruments, several of which have been recorded by BIS.

Tracklist:

19 Preludes: No. 1. Tranquillo
19 Preludes: No. 2. Allegro Vivace
19 Preludes: No. 3. Semplice
19 Preludes: No. 4. Presto
19 Preludes: No. 5. Grave
19 Preludes: No. 6. Maestoso
19 Preludes: No. 7. Presto
19 Preludes: No. 8. Allegretto
19 Preludes: No. 9. Lento Assai
19 Preludes: No. 10. Prestissimo
19 Preludes: No. 11. Andante
19 Preludes: No. 12. Allegro - Maestoso
19 Preludes: No. 13. Allegretto
19 Preludes: No. 14. Grave
19 Preludes: No. 15. Moderato Grazioso
19 Preludes: No. 16. Moderato
19 Preludes: No. 17. Andante - Allegro - Adagio
19 Preludes: No. 18. Lento Assai, Esitante
19 Preludes: No. 19. Tranquillo
3 Small Piano Pieces: No. 1. Maestoso
3 Small Piano Pieces: No. 2. Tranquillo
3 Small Piano Pieces: No. 3. Maestoso
2 Pientä Pianokappaletta Lapsille: No. 1. Andante
2 Pientä Pianokappaletta Lapsille: No. 2. Allegretto
Piano Sonatina: I. Toccata: Presto
Piano Sonatina: II. Andante
Piano Sonatina: III. Prestissimo
Solo II
Piano Sonata: I. -
Piano Sonata: II. Allegro Molto
Piano Sonata: III. Tranquillo Molto

UPC: 7318599921068
Label: Bis
Release Date: 3.10.15
Format: CD

Aho / Sonja Fraki - Works for Solo Piano (CD)