Salonen / Upshaw / Karttunen / Lap / LSF - Variations / Five Images After Sappho - Music & Performance - CD

Esa-Pekka Salonen's name seems to be everywhere lately. As the music director of the formidable Los Angeles Philharmonic (probably the highest profile orchestra in the world), he's constantly in the limelight, performing in cities around the world. Yet, this is just a glimpse into this versatile musician's bag of tricks. In the past few years, Salonen has emerged as one of the most exciting and innovative composers in the world. In the world premiere recording of this composers L.A. Variations, we are fortunate to witness Salonen, conducting his own work, as well as four other pieces that feature the cellist, Anssi Karttunen and the soprano, Dawn Upshaw.

"L.A. Variations" was written as a tribute to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and premiered by that orchestra in 1997. In terms of structure, "L.A. Variations" can be described as a chord and about 20 variations; each variation possessing a particularly evocative character. "L.A. Variations" does not begin so much as it explodes, with a dark, resonant, groan that vibrates the very foundation upon which we stand. In the aftermath, sound is peeled away in layers, each new layer exposing another strata that lies just beneath the surface of our perception. From these ashes a modal folk melody emerges in the violas, which is juxtaposed with an icy descending motive in the piccolo.

Salonen's development of these contrasting ideas is ingenious. The folk melody begins to push away from the nebulous void that supports it, expanding with each restatement. The glacial piccolo motive also begins to grow, but it is columns of sound, frozen in time, like a memory, that fills the air. The beat of a gong issues in a tremendous roar of outrage as all that has come before is consumed by machines rolling blindly across the musical landscape. Like before, the destruction implodes upon itself and slowly dissipates, uncovering a scampering game of musical tag with a solo violin and solo woodwinds.

Salonen quickly superimposes a raucous brass figure, over the ridiculous scurrying in the violin and winds, that constantly hiccups in vain attempts to align to the gaiety pulsing beneath. As the devastation of the opening returns, it is now dark clouds of leaden sound that move listlessly across the soundscape. Yet suddenly, these sound clouds open up and an impassioned string melody begins to soar like a bird, while brittle woodwind figures streak like rays of sunlight through the dark clouds. This is music that simply bursts with passion, but at the same time constantly surprises!

Salonen's "Five Images after Sappho" is scored for soprano and chamber orchestra, and was composed for the gifted Dawn Upshaw. This is eerily powerful music that will keep you perched at the edge of your seat. In "Tell Everyone," Upshaw emerges from the discordant peal of the opening chord, like a distant bell. As she stretches within the musical fabric, the tension grows painfully tight, almost to the point of bursting. In the comical "Its No Use," a young girl blames her inability to complete her chores on love. Salonen brilliantly fits a churning bass clarinet motive beneath the scattered girls protestations of "Its no Use," resulting in a scene that will have you laughing.

There can be no doubt that Esa-Pekka Salonen has become one of the most powerful musical forces of his generation. Oddly enough, his initial studies in Finland focused on composition, and it was only to gain skill in being able to interpret his own works that he also pursued conducting studies as well. What is undeniable in listening to L.A. Variations is the power of this artists vision. This is music that will move audiences for centuries to come, and we are fortunate to not only witness the creation of these works, in our lifetime, but to be able to hear the composer interpret these works. L.A. Variations is not a CD that any collection should be without.

By Perri M. Zimmerman