The New York Times praises Finnish records.
Janne Valkeajoki with his instrument in 2017. Heikki Tuuli
The New York Times has put the records of two Finnish musicians on the list of the best classical music albums of the year.
One of those who made it to the list is a qualified accordion artist, conductor Janne Valkeajoken album Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin (Orchid Classics)
Valkeajoki plays on the record Jean-Philippe Rameau music.
NYT writes that the accordion was invented more than half a century after Rameau’s death (1764), but on the album Valkeajoki shows “how naturally and beautifully the works for keyboards adapt to the accordion’s intimate and sometimes symphonic character”.
Born in 1992, Valkeajoki graduated from the Sibelius Academy in 2017. He has performed a lot both in Finland and abroad.
The list also includes a conductor Esa-Pekka Salosen’s recording Kaija Saariaho Adriana Mater together with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
Kaarina Gould and Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Polar gala in Stockholm last spring. PDO
NYT writes that the recording was recorded only a few days after Saariaho’s death.
– It serves as a suitable memory for a composer with a unique vision, the magazine praises.
Kaija Saariaho at Linna’s party in 2017. Saariaho passed away in June 2023. Jenni Gästgivar