Rautavaara: Canticum Mariae virginis

Ondine continues its long-term collaboration with Einojuhani Rautavaara with the world première recording of his Missa a cappella.

Einojuhani Rautavaara – a self-described “mysthic” – has written a considerable amount of sacred music, including works in the Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox traditions. His Missa a cappella is one of his most significant recent works, and is here recorded alongside extracts of the Vigilia – his most extensive sacred choral work – his Missa duodecanonica, and a number of smaller sacred choral works.

The Latvian Radio Choir is one of the top chamber choirs in Europe, praised by Gramophone as “an outstanding body of singers”. As a “sound laboratory”, the singers investigate alternative techniques to enhance their vocal skills – from traditional methods to the art of quartertone and overtone singing.

Under the direction of Sigvards Kļava, the Latvian Radio Choir has become an internationally acclaimed and vocally distinctive ensemble, constantly searching for new ideas. Under his guidance, the choir has recorded a several works bylesser-known composers, and have collaborated with a number of notable Latvian composers.

This is the Latvian Radio Choir’s follow-up disc to their highly acclaimed recording of Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, which was Gramophone’s Recording of the Month in their February issue.

The Fairhaven Singers' new disc features a selection of transcendent choral works dedicated to the Virgin Mary, under the direction of Ralph Woodward, and produced by John Rutter. The largely meditative programme of Ave Maria settings spanning four centuries also features Brahms’ radiant Marienlieder and offers a distillation of joy and purity – the perfect tonic. Highlights include the premiere recording of Bob Chilcott's Ave Maria, and diverse choral treasures to suit all tastes, performed with warmth and sparkle.

After releasing boxes featuring Einojuhani Rautaavara’s eight Symphonies and twelve Concertos, Ondine is pleased to release a four-CD box of his Choral Works.

This box includes both sacred and secular works, and shows the composer’s diversity in style, expression and content.

Rautavaara is perhaps the most well-known and certainly the most recorded living Finnish composer today.

These recordings feature two acclaimed Finnish mixed choirs – the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir and the Finnish Philharmonic Chorus – as well as the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra under conductors Timo Nuoranne, Eric-Olof Söderström and Leif Segerstam.

The recordings are taken from existing acclaimed releases on Ondine.