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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SAARIAHO, K.: Notes on Light / Orion / Mirage (Mattila, Karttunen, Paris Orchestra, Eschenbach)
Anssi Karttunen, Karita Mattila, Orchestre de Paris, Christoph Eschenbach
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 1, 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
3 Hymnes - Arias d'opéra
Soile Isokoski, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Okko Kamu
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on Sep 4, 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
MAHLER, G.: Symphony No. 6, "Tragic" / Piano Quartet in A minor
Philadelphia Orchestra, David Kim, Christoph Eschenbach, Choong-Jin Chang, Efe Baltacigil
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: All-Night Vigil & Other Sacred Choral Works
Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Kļava
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Ondine on May 1, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Pēteris Vasks: Works for Piano Trio
Chamber Music - Released by Ondine on Feb 7, 2020
24-Bit 88.2 kHz - Stereo -
Berio: Ritirata notturna di Madrid, Calmo & Sinfonia
Classical - Released by Ondine on Sep 29, 2014
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Eller: Violin Concerto, Fantasy, Symphonic Legend & Symphony No. 2
Baiba Skride, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Olari Elts
Classical - Released by Ondine on Nov 9, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann, Saint-Saëns, Glière : Works for Horn & Orchestra
Markus Maskuniitty, Martin Schöpfer, Kristofer Öberg, Monica Berenguer Caro, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo
Concertos for wind instruments - Released by Ondine on Apr 12, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Americascapes
Delphine Dupuy, Basque National Orchestra, Robert Trevino
Classical - Released by Ondine on Oct 1, 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
SIBELIUS, J.: Kullervo (Helsinki Philharmonic, Segerstam)
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Soile Isokoski, Leif Segerstam, Tommi Hakala, Ylioppilaskunnan Laulajat
Classical - Released by Ondine on May 13, 2008
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Egmont, Op. 84 (Live)
Robert Hunger-Bühler, Elisabeth Breuer, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra, Aapo Hakkinen
Classical - Released by Ondine on Aug 9, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos
Olli Mustonen, Tapiola Sinfonietta
Classical - Released by Ondine on May 1, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tüür : Illuminatio, Symphony No. 8...
Lawrence Power, Genevieve Lacey, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Olari Elts, Marko Myohanen
Symphonic Music - Released by Ondine on Feb 9, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Tüür: Peregrinus ecstaticus - Le poids des vies non vécues - Noēsis
Christoffer Sundqvist, Pekka Kuusisto, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hannu Lintu
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 27, 2017
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
RAUTAVAARA, E.: Piano Concerto No. 3 / Autumn Gardens (Ashkenazy)
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 1, 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Madetoja: Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 & Okon Fuoko Suite
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 7, 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Before the Icons - A Tapestry of Life
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Leif Segerstam
Symphonic Music - Released by Ondine on Apr 27, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chopin : Études Op. 25
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Klami & Englund: Violin Concertos
Benjamin Schmid, Oulu Symphony Orchestra, Johannes Gustavsson
Classical - Released by Ondine on Oct 14, 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
LINDBERG, M.: Graffiti / Seht die Sonne (Helsinki Chamber Choir / Finnish Radio Symphony, Oramo)
Helsinki Chamber Choir, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo
Vocal Music (Secular and Sacred) - Released by Ondine on Feb 23, 2010
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Saariaho: Du cristal - …à la fumée - 7 Papillons - Nymphéa
Esa-Pekka Salonen, Kronos Quartet, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Anssi Karttunen, Kaija Saariaho, Petri Alanko
Classical - Released by Ondine on Jul 12, 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo