Castle Classics Rantala, Iiro (Finnish B.1970)

I Rantala: Piano Concerto - Iiro Rantala, piano; Tapiola Sinfonietta; Jaakko Kuusisto, conductor

Label - Ondine

Cat. No. - ODE10712

Including Concerto for Piano; Final Fantasy; Astorale; Tangonator

This CD contains the premiere recording of Iiro Rantala's highly entertaining piano concerto, which crosses the borders of jazz and contemporary classical music and is packed with humour, imagination, action and fun. The concerto is coupled with Final Fantasy for piano and orchestra, Astorale for piano solo and Tangonator for violin and piano.

Iiro Rantala, one of the most prominent jazz musicians in Finland, is possessed by an inexhaustible fountain of musical creativity. He has always been inspired to explore the limits of his imagination and of good taste in naming his compositions.

This applies to the concerto too, which ended up with the improbable title of Concerto for Piano and Concerto in G#majAs. Its opening is a nod to Victor Borge and the ending demonstrates in no uncertain terms what the composer was thinking of during the creative process. There is not exactly a sense of key in the work, though Iiro Rantala is a composer who adheres religiously to triads and key relationships. The concerto in three movements, is a virtuoso vehicle of abundant, unashamedly beautiful and lucid music for piano and orchestra that is also easy on the listener. One can hear Rantala quote his idols: Serge Prokofiev, Serge Rachmaninov, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. The orchestration is by composer, violinist and conductor Jaakko Kuusisto (b.1974), who also conducts the Tapiola Sinfonietta on this recording. Astorale and Tangonator were written for Rantala's ensemble Tango Kings, whose career peaked in New York in the 1990s. Final Fantasy is part of the core repertoire of Rantala's most permanent ensemble, Trio Töykeät.

Iiro Rantala (b. 1970) began his piano studies at the Käpylä Music Institute and went on to study at the Oulunkylä Pop/Jazz Institute and the Jazz Department of the Sibelius Academy. His musical education also included studying classical piano at the Manhattan School of Music for two years beginning in 1991. He is best known as the founder and pianist of Trio Töykeät, Finland's most famous jazz band. The Trio has given over 2,300 performances in 40 different countries spread over five continents - a formidable achievement. Exploring the boundaries between musical genres is characteristic of Iiro Rantala's artist personality. He has appeared in Finland with symphony orchestras, performing the Cartoon Concerto by Riku Niemi and Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin.
Price: £13.99 (Including VAT at 17.5%)

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