A Finn celebrates with unheard Olly Knussen
mainThe Finnish cellist Anssi Karttunen will celebrate his 60th birthday later this month with a Helsinki concert in memory of the late British composer Oliver Knussen. Truly, a lovely gesture.
The concert will include three world premieres:
Knussen: Tarantella sur le nom Saariaho (2002)
Saariaho: Lullaby (in memoriam Oliver Knussen) (2020)
Lindberg: Piece for Olly
The full programme is:
Anssi Karttunen, La Fuga
Anssi Karttunen, Reflections
Oliver Knussen, Tarantella
Mark-Anthony Turnage, Song For Big Owl
Magnus x 60
Julian Anderson, Maisema
11×6=60: Homages to Pascal Dusapin
Magnus Lindberg, Piece for Olly
Colin Matthews, Three fragments
Kaija Saariaho, Lullaby
Maybe the most underrated conductor in his generation.
And the most underrated cellist!
Not underrated by me! Such brilliance and a fabulous friend as well.
Without question yes.
Not so sure about that. He was very much in demand as a conductor of contemporary music and rightly so. If there were any doubts about his merits compare this performance with the commercial one made the same year : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbvTWRf-ol4
usually, if a piece is unheard, it’s unheard for a reason.
??????
What a cruel and unnecessary comment.
This suggests a topic for discussion: what work most combines greatness with lag between composition and first performance? For starters, I nominate Schubert’s “Great” C major (composed 1826, premiered 1839).
Go back in your box, you spoilsport!
Ouch! Bizet’s Symphony received its premiere long after the composer died and it’s a gem.
Nice to know how well he is remembered.
Miss you, Olly