Esa-pekka Salonen - The Complete Sony Recordings

Conductor Salonen, Esa-Pekka Ensembles Los Angeles Philharmonic Philharmonia Orchestra Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Few artists are as multifaceted as Esa-Pekka Salonen - not only in the way he combines his conducting success with his composing, but also in the scope of the repertoire that he has championed over the past 30 years and more. This is the largest collection to date of the work of this vital figure in contemporary music-making. Despite the variety of Salonen's musical interests, he has fashioned profound links with a handful of ensembles, all of which are represented here. He conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic on many of recordings, where he is Conductor Laureate, having been Music Director for 17 years. On another portion of the release he conducts the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he was Principal Conductor from 1985 to 1994. And finally, he is heard conducting the Philharmonia, where he has been Principal Conductor since 2008 - and where his international career was launched in 1983. The LA Philharmonic play on his recording of Bruckner's Fourth, demonstrating the insight Salonen brings to the Romantic repertoire. Salonen's early Nielsen cycle of symphonies and concertos with the Swedish RSO receives its first release here as a complete set. Another portion shows Salonen's deft way with his compatriot Sibelius, with works including the Fifth Symphony and the enormous Kullervo. Gramophone described Salonen's recording of Messiaen's Des Canyons aux étoiles with the London Sinfonietta as "an essential constituent of any library of twentieth-century music", and Salonen's classic Turangalïla is included here too. His Stravinsky is no less significant, and represented from the early ballets to the late Cantata. Ligeti's revised Le Grand Macabre is included along with a "richly entertaining" (Gramophone) collection of shorter Ligeti works with the Philharmonia. "Salonen still ranks as Lutoslawski's foremost champion", wrote AllMusic Guide, and this set also contains his take on the Polish composer's music, including the Third Symphony recording that won a Grammy.

Price: $209.98