Eller: Symphonic Poems

Elts, Olari, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra

ODE 1335-2

This second volume in a series dedicated to the orchestral works of Heino Eller (1887–1970) by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under conductor Olari Elts is a ground-breaking introduction to one of the founders of the Estonian school of music. The present volume consists of Eller’s symphonic poems and contains some of Eller’s earliest symphonic works, including one of his most well-known works, Dawn (Koit). • Twilight and Dawn, Eller’s first symphonic scores, have proven to be his most popular and accessible works, sometimes performed as a pair. The charming Twilight, with a somewhat Wagnerian middle section, carries the seeds of Eller’s hallmark bittersweet lyricism and delicate modal harmonies, that manifest in full bloom in the Dawn. Both works can be perceived as Eller’s homage to Estonian nature. In a radio interview in 1946, the composer, talking about Dawn, says this: „I have bound all my love towards the nature into this work. This love harks back to boyhood, when I often wondered on the floodplains of the river Emajõgi. And to this day it has stayed in me, and is in fact the essence of all my works.“ • Large symphonic poem Night Calls was premiered in Tartu 8th of April 1921, in the first concert of Eller’s works in Estonia. According to Eller, the idea for Night Calls stems from a storm he witnessed one night. Years later Eller also mentioned of having been influenced by Mussorgsky’s Night on the Bald Mountain. This work shows Eller’s early skills in writing music that is full of drama and atmosphere. • Symphonic Suite White Night was completed in 1939. In this work cast in 7 movements we find Eller’s mature voice, and it is considered to be one of the best examples of the ‘Ellerian’ style. During WW2 two scores of the work were destroyed and the composer considered the work as lost. Luckily, the original score of the work was found years later at the radio archives in Stockholm by Eduard Tubin and the work was performed again in 1962 at the composer’s 75th anniversary concert.

CD

30.09.2019

0761195133521

Diapason: 'Diapason Découvertes' (2020), MusicWeb International: 'Recommended' (2019)