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Saxophonist and composer Eero Koivistoinen has honed his skills since the 60s, and it shouldn’t come as any surprise that his playing is superb. Still one cannot help thinking that he has reached a kind of a new plateau as a player.

As witnessed both on Verneri Pohjola’s Bullhorn and Aki Rissanen Trio’s Amorandom, the musicians breathe together in a magic way. And with Another North, they push the envelope of band ESP even further.

Mopocalypse marks the full emergence of a mighty saxophonist-composer matched by a strong, inventive rhythm section.

The year 2017 not only marks the centenary of Finland’s independence but is also an anniversary year for Finnish music education.

"Olli Ahvenlahti’s compositions are mostly mellow and somewhat romantic, as is his playing. The touch has a pleasant singing quality."

Helsinki-based composer Olli Virtaperko attained a physical outcome to a four-year project with the release of an album of three extensive concertos on the Ondine label in October 2017. The details of the Romer’s Gap disc are a fascinating reflection of Virtaperko’s entire career to date.

The new beautiful printed edition of the FMQ is out, and on its way to the subscribers!

It is difficult to imagine a more interesting premise: the Kamus Quartet, who have been in the same lineup since the group was established, playing suave and energetic chamber music by Esa-Pekka Salonen, György Ligeti and Benjamin Britten.

Sallinen’s orchestrations are a miracle of restraint, somehow managing to sound entirely appropriate without mimicking Sibelius’s own style: his textures are lighter, with less ‘middle’, and little flashes of colour from winds, brass and harp all bringing an invigorating freshness.