Ondine
Ondine quickly outstripped their original mission. Their fourth release, dedicated to Thomas Einojuhani Rautavaara, conquered an international audience in the years of 1987-1988. With a sound displaying undeniable expertise, Ondine quickly became the architect of a Finish musical renaissance, in line with the Finlandia label, as they used the name and music of Rautavaara as a pillar. There are more than 25 references, actively, to the Ondine catalogue online.
Early in its existence, Ondine affirmed its very strong roots in Finnish music and culture. It focussed on Finnish music, and on Finnish musicians. The label made exciting discoveries, showcasing names that were previously unheard of both in Finland and abroad: Väinö Raitio, Aarre Merikanto, and Erkki Melartin, who once served as the best representatives of Finland; Jukka Pekka Saraste, Leif Segerstam, Sakari Oramo, the Finnish Chamber Choir, Karita Mattila, Soile Isokoski, Ralf Gothoni, and the Tapiola Sinfonietta Chamber Orchestra (from the city of Espoo) serve as the best representatives for today.
Without doubt the finest Ondine discs probably date from a certain period, a veritable golden age. The label produced some absolutely outstanding achievements, worth of an ideal discography: Jorma Hyninnen singing songs by Sibelius, but also Rautavaara’s vocal works for mixed choir by the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir (a simply extraordinary work!), Melartin’s Symphonies 1 to 6 by Leonid Grin (the Fourth Symphony, consisting of sumptuous music, remains one of the most dazzling Finnish scores of the early 20th century), the Symphonic Poems of Merikanto (beautiful Pan!) by Tuomas Ollila-Hannikainen, and the two Raitio opuses (simply indispensable) by Saraste and Ollila-Hannikainen. This is all without mentioning the Pingoud, Englund, and Kokkonen programmes… and, more recently, the superb ‘Talescapes’ recital by the YL choir. The importance played upon contemporary Finnish music facilitates the idea of continuity in artistic policy superbly…
Impressed by such a success story, today many international artists continue to sign with the Finnish label, such as Christian Tetzlaff, Lars Vogt, and Benjamin Schmid. Nevertheless, Ondine has continued its defence of the talents of Finland. The young pianist Paavali Jumppanen has performed the vast anthology of Beethoven sonatas for the label, with a release soon to follow. The prodigious conductor Hannu Lintu continues to develop, boldly directing his initiative towards some still too little known composers (such as Enesco).
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Tchaikovsky : Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Excerpts) - 9 Sacred Pieces, TH 78
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Ondine on 14 Jun 2019
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Ravel: Orchestral Works
Basque National Orchestra, Robert Trevino
Classical - Released by Ondine on 2 Apr 2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Garden of Spaces / Clarinet Concerto / Cantus arcticus (Stoltzman, Helsinki Philharmonic, Segerstam)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Stoltzman, Leif Segerstam
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-9
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 May 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hindemith: Kammermusik, Vol. 1
Xi Zhai, Christopher Park, Bruno Philippe, Kronberg Academy Soloists, Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach
Classical - Released by Ondine on 6 Mar 2020
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin: Complete Mazurkas, Vol. 1
Classical - Released by Ondine on 7 Oct 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Sonatas K280, K281, K310 & K333
Classical - Released by Ondine on 10 May 2019
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
SAARIAHO, K.: 6 Japanese Gardens / Pres / Lonh (Hoitenga, Upshaw)
Dawn Upshaw, Anssi Karttunen, Camilla Hoitenga, Florent Jodelet, na Not Applicable
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1997
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dmitry Shostakovich : Cello Concertos
Truls Mørk, Oslo-Filharmonien, Vasily Petrenko
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Apr 2014
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rautavaara: Sacred Works for Mixed Chorus (Magnificat, Canticum Mariae Virginis, Credo)
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 1999
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sonates pour violon et piano
Chamber Music - Released by Ondine on 2 Oct 2012
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Adès: Orchestral Works
The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tomas Nuñez, Pekka Kuusisto, Nicholas Collon
Classical - Released by Ondine on 7 Oct 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Vasks: Laudate Dominum
Latvian Radio Choir, Sinfonietta Riga, Ilze Reine, Sigvards Kļava
Classical - Released by Ondine on 10 Nov 2017
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich: Violin Concertos 1 & 2
Christian Tetzlaff, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Sep 2014
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Saariaho : True Fire, Ciel d'hiver & Trans (Live)
Gerald Finley, Xavier de Maistre, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by Ondine on 10 May 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Vêpres, op.37
Latvijas Radio koris, Sigvards Kļava
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Ondine on 29 Oct 2012
Gramophone: Recording of the Month24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
STRAUSS, R.: 4 Last Songs / Orchestral Songs (Isokoski)
Soile Isokoski, Berlin Rundfunkorchester, Marek Janowski
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on 1 Jan 2002
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Piano Works
Classical - Released by Ondine on 14 Oct 2016
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Zimmermann : Violin Concerto, Photoptosis, Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by Ondine on 8 Feb 2019
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5
Olli Mustonen, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by Ondine on 8 Sep 2017
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Concerto pour violoncelle n°2 - Modificata - Concerto pour percussion
Truls Mørk, Colin Currie, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on 1 Feb 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo