Violinist
Pekka Kuusisto and composer Jean Sibelius seem to be an ideal match. After his highly successful debut recording playing the Sibelius concerto,
Kuusisto returns here as soloist and conductor of the
Tapiola Sinfonietta for another strong showing with some of Sibelius' lesser-known works for violin and orchestra.
Kuusisto's tonal palate is impressive, especially considering his young age, and the Six Humoresques offer an ideal platform from which to demonstrate. From the shimmering moto perpetuo of number two, the mysterious intrigue of number four, to the powerful guttural sound of number six,
Kuusisto easily maintains the listener's interest throughout. The Two Serenades, though well played, do not represent Sibelius' strongest compositional offerings. Not so with the Suite, Op. 117, which ironically the composer indicated should never be published. The work was written with American performance venues in mind, offering a very pastoral, almost "western" feel throughout.
Kuusisto's consistently energetic playing and leadership of the orchestra make us glad that someone unearthed the piece and published it posthumously despite Sibelius' wishes.
Also included in this collection is the incidental music to the play Swanwhite, which
Kuusisto conducts without the benefit of violin in hand. This again is not among Sibelius' greatest works, and the orchestra appears to lose some of its vitality and enthusiasm when not following a soloist. Still, it is a decent performance of a piece that might not be heard elsewhere.