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Composer

Einojuhani Rautavaara

1928 — 2016

About

Concerts and Operas

Wolfgang Sawallisch & The Philadelphia Orchestra: Rautavaara & Strauss
Kölner Philharmonie
Concert73 Min
Rising Stars: Santiago Cañón-Valencia, Cello
Tanzsaal an der Panke
Concert48 Min
Oramo conducts Rautavaara, Prokofiev & Sibelius - with Olli Mustonen
CBSO
Concert82 Min
Pianomania! Daniil Trifonov performs the Schumann Piano Concerto
Gulbenkian Orchestra
Concert109 Min
Segerstam conducts Rautavaara: On the Last Frontier
Helsinki Philharmonic
Concert29 Min

Albums

Paris
Hilary Hahn, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Mikko Franck
Neeme Järvi & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi
Deutscher Jugendkammerchor: Nachtschichten
Deutscher Jugendkammerchor, Florian Benfer
In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores
Hilary Hahn, Cory Smythe
Rautavaara: Choral Music
Schola Cantorum of Oxford, James Burton
Music of the Northern Lights
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi

AboutEinojuhani Rautavaara

Einojuhani Rautavaara was a Finnish composer of classical music. Among the most notable Finnish composers since Jean Sibelius (1865–1957), Rautavaara wrote a great number of works spanning various styles. These include eight symphonies, nine operas and twelve concertos, as well as numerous vocal and chamber works. Having written early works using 12-tone serial techniques, his later music may be described as neo-romantic and mystical. His major works include his first piano concerto (1969), Cantus Arcticus (1972) and his seventh symphony, Angel of Light (1994).

Einojuhani Rautavaara: A Finnish Composer of Distinction

Einojuhani Rautavaara was a prominent Finnish composer of classical music, known for his extensive and diverse body of work. Born on 9 October 1928 in Helsinki, Finland, he passed away on 27 July 2016 at the age of 87. Rautavaara's music spans a wide range of styles, from early serialism to later neo-romantic and mystical compositions.

Early Life and Education

Rautavaara began his musical journey at the age of seventeen, studying piano and later musicology at Helsinki University and composition at the Sibelius Academy. He was a pupil of Aarre Merikanto and received his diploma in composition in 1957. Rautavaara furthered his studies with notable composers such as Vincent Persichetti at the Juilliard School in New York and participated in Tanglewood courses with Roger Sessions and Aaron Copland.

Career and Notable Works

Rautavaara's career is marked by numerous symphonies, operas, concertos, vocal works, and chamber music. His major compositions include the First Piano Concerto (1969), a significant work reflecting his early serial techniques, Cantus Arcticus (1972), known for its evocative use of Arctic bird songs, and Symphony No. 7, Angel of Light (1994), a quintessential example of his later mystical style. He also composed operas like Vincent (1986-87) and Rasputin (2001-03), showcasing themes of creativity and madness.

Style and Legacy

Rautavaara's early works were influenced by 12-tone serial techniques, reflecting his initial engagement with serialism. However, his later compositions are characterized by a neo-romantic and mystical approach, often featuring rich, sweeping melodic profiles that are both accessible and evocative. He is considered one of the most frequently performed Finnish composers after Jean Sibelius, with his music being widely appreciated internationally.