Kalevi Aho: Concertos (2007)

Kalevi Aho, one of Finland's leading symphonists and opera composers, has taken on the task of writing concerti for two of the orchestra's lowest and most neglected instruments: the tuba and the contrabassoon. Both instruments have extremely limited concerto repertoire, so his efforts will be met with much gratitude by tubists and contrabassoonists. The Tuba Concerto, however, will probably be almost exclusively of interest to tubists. Aho has latched onto the instrument's cantabile qualities, and the solo line is ... Read More

Kalevi Aho, one of Finland's leading symphonists and opera composers, has taken on the task of writing concerti for two of the orchestra's lowest and most neglected instruments: the tuba and the contrabassoon. Both instruments have extremely limited concerto repertoire, so his efforts will be met with much gratitude by tubists and contrabassoonists. The Tuba Concerto, however, will probably be almost exclusively of interest to tubists. Aho has latched onto the instrument's cantabile qualities, and the solo line is relentlessly and blandly lyrical, in a meandering Hindemithian way, without a really strong musical character or memorably melodic profile. The orchestral writing is somewhat more engaging, but it's still clearly an accompanying function, and as such can't supply the substance to sustain interest in the piece. The Contrabassoon Concerto is another story. The contrabassoon is capable of broader tonal variety than the tuba, and Aho expertly deploys it in ways that allow it to strut its stuff.... Read Less