Whatever his talents as a conductor (and they are considerable), this new release confirms Esa-Pekka Salonen’s true genius as a composer. With the Finnish Radio Symphony Salonen presents three original, powerful, captivating and–get this–thoroughly enjoyable works. Leonard Bernstein predicted the return of tonality but cautioned that it would be changed, different. Salonen’s music, while not particularly tuneful, is flush with the exuberance of tonality rediscovered, as if newly freed from serialism’s thorny fetters. Yes, there are still a few craggy modernists on the scene along with their staunch advocates (in his first season as music director James Levine is giving Boston Symphony audiences a particularly hardscrabble musical diet of Wuorinen and his ilk); but Salonen is one of a contemporary breed of crag-free composers (John Adams, Jennifer Higdon, Michael Daugherty) who produce music that’s thought-provoking and challenging yet allows you to leave your antidepressants at home.
Foreign Bodies is in three continuous movements entitled Body Language, Language, and Dance. It leaps into action, releasing an enormous amount of sonic and rhythmic energy. While there are occasional moments reminiscent of minimalism (Salonen’s deep immersion in John Adams’ Naïve and Sentimental Music can be detected), the music sounds free of any one stylistic stricture. Listen to how Salonen’s orchestration freely moves from sparse Stravinskian clarity to Varèse-like clamoring to the harp-drenched coloring of Bartók. Wing on Wing celebrates Los Angeles’ new Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Salonen’s music, with its otherworldly vocalise intoned by sopranos Anu and Piia Komsi, captures both the enormity and strange sense of petrified motion evoked by Frank Gehry’s breathtaking architectural structure.
Finally, Insomnia suggests an inner realm between the sleeping and waking states, using unique sounds Salonen creates with stunningly original tone colors and textures. But there’s the familiar also, as the shadow of Sibelius (something probably unavoidable for a Finnish composer) steals over the work’s central section with a subtle reference to Night Ride and Sunrise. The Finnish Radio Symphony plays with consummate virtuosity in these powerful composer-led performances. DG’s recording presents it all with extraordinary clarity, presence, and dynamic impact. If you’re looking to be excited about new music again, get this disc. [3/21/2005]
