Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra: ‘Kullervo’ grabs Diapason Gold

The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra have scored this year’s “Diapason d’Or” for orchestral music. The award is presented each year by French magazine Diapason and considered one of the most coveted prizes in the world of classical music. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra received the critics’ appraisal for their recording of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ choral symphony ‘Kullervo’, which some have already named as either “a candiate for the best (version) yet” or even as the leading interpretation of this work available on the market today. In his laudatio of the ‘Kullervo’ disc, journalist Christian Merlin wrote that "Leif Segerstam's forceful interpretation, (puts him) at the top of the discography” and that Soprano Soile Isokoski was “simply unsurpassable." For label Ondine, this is already the second time they have managed to take pole position at the Diapason awards, following another Sibelius recording (“Lemminkäinen Legends” by Mikko Franck and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2000).

The Diapason d’Or for ‘Kullervo’ doesn’t only reward a single disc in this case, but rather the peak of a process which insiders had already noticed years ago. The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra have gradually upgraded their profile from just another orchestra into one of the more active and modern symphonics of Europe, whose live activities are as popular as their studio recordings – their recent album “Scene d'amore”, for example, has garnered equal success in the critical department, with the Ondine connection sure to deliver more quality material in the near and distant future.

As John Storgårds has picked up his duties as the new principal conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the ensemble has furthermore sold plenty of tickets for the upcoming season already, as officials reported. Part of this commercial success has been down to celebrations surrounding some of the major players in contemporary composition, including Einojuhani Rautavaara, Magnus Lindberg, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Elliott Carter and Krzysztof Penderecki – the latter of whom will conduct some of his works at his 75th birthday concert on November 27.

Homepage: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Homepage: Ondine Records