Erkki Melartin

Ida Moberg (1859–1947) wished to command ensembles that produced a large sound while also touching human emotions: Most of her output is for orchestra or choir or both. The topics of her works largely has to do with individual’s spiritual metamorphosis.

It is finally time for Erkki Melartin to emerge from “the shadow of Sibelius”, nearly 63 years after his death. Is Melartin a symphonic composer of international stature or merely one of those “harlots and their pimps”, as Gustav Mahler termed the “national geniuses” in music?

Historical research very often starts with the researcher consulting archives. Finland has a wide variety of libraries and archives with material on a wide range of subjects, including Sibelius, church music from the Middle Ages, folk music and popular music.

"Producing premiere recordings of Traumgesicht and two other key works by Melartin is an act of high cultural merit."

For decades, composer Erkki Melartin faded slowly into obscurity. Today, he is the subject of more research than ever. Recently produced editions of his music to modern standards have made his works more accessible for performances by orchestras. All this has resulted in these exciting works being performed in concert, and now a wonderful recording.