New Release: Einojuhani Rautavaara - Kaivos

On Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Ondine Records released the premiere recording of Einojuhani Rautavaara's first opera Kaivos.  The Finnish-born Rautavaara composed this opera between 1957 and 1962.  This recording was produced in conjunction with the first live performance of the opera in September 2010.  The thematic allusions to the Hungarian uprising in 1956 had impeded the original stage production.  In 1963 a made for television production of Kaivos was aired making it the first Finnish Television opera.

The opera is in three acts and tells the story of an uprising of European miners in the 1950s.  Rautavaara considers this opera to be "perhaps the best opera I have ever written.  A real thriller whose underlying theme - that a human being defines himself through his choices - is nevertheless universal."

The cast on this recording features Hannu Niemelä as Simon, Johanna Rusanen-Kartano as Ira and Jorma Hynninen as the Comissar.  Hannu Lintu conducts the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and the specially assembled Kaivos Chorus.

This recording is New Music Forum's Pick of the Month for February 2011.



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To order mp3 from Amazon.com click here: Rautavaara: Kaivos