Star organist dies, 65
RIPThe international Finnish organist Kalevi Kiviniemi died yesterday in Lahti, a week after suffering a heart attack.
Starting out at the organ of his hometown church, Kiviniemi was the first to record the complete organ music of Jean Sibelius. He toured the world, playing more than 2,000 concerts on the most celebrated organs.
He was awarded the Finnish state prize for music.
Wonderful playing. It is quite an experience to hear this live in a setting like this.
While his name is new to me, the video was incredible. I’ve heard Finlandia performed on organ many times. I was never satisfied with what I hear. The tonal register he employs, the trills and the accents he uses in the recording is by far the best performance I’ve heard to date. Really an unbelievable video. RIP
New to me too. And WOW, what a performance. Had me in tears.
Plus, wonderful organ sound, and all that reverberation. RIP
Sibelius’ organ music, like Brahms’, is quite underrated.
Wonderful playing, simply wonderful …. RIP Maestro ….
Kiviniemi devoted his last years to taking care of his ailing mother. After her death in November 2023, Kiviniemi prepared for new concert tours, but they were never going to happen.