Lepo Sumera(1950-2000); a Catalogue of the Orchestral and Choral Music

[Dundonnell]

Sumera's early death at the age of 50 sadly deprived us of a substantial symphonist. He has at least been well-served on disc.

LEPO SUMERA: A CATALOGUE OF THE ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL MUSIC

1972:      "In memoriam(Heino Eller)" for orchestra: 22 minutes   + (BIS cd)
1975:      Cantata "About Life and Death" for chorus and orchestra: 15 minutes
1977:      Music for Chamber Orchestra: 17 minutes    + (BIS cd)
1977/78:Ballet "Anselm's Story": 85 minutes
1980:      Olympic Music I for orchestra: 5 minutes
                Olympic Music II for orchestra: 5 minutes
1981:      Symphony No.1: 30 minutes    + (BIS cd)
1983:      "To the Harmony" for Flute and String Orchestra: 10 minutes
1984:      Symphony No.2: 20 minutes    +  (BIS cd)
1987/93:Ballet "The Lizard": 90 minutes
                   (and Ballet Suite: 55 minutes)
1988:      Symphony No.3: 24 minutes    +   (BIS cd)
1989:      Piano Concerto: 18 minutes    +  (Finlandia and BIS cds)
                "Open(r)ing" for orchestra: 15 minutes
                "Musik fur Karlsruhe in Barockstil" for Harp and String Orchestra: 28 minutes
1992:      Symphony No.4 "Serena Borealis": 26 minutes    +  (BIS cd)
                "Musica tenera" for orchestra: 9 minutes    +  (BIS cd)
1994:      "Nostalgic Textures" for orchestra: 6 minutes
1995:      Symphony No.5: 33 minutes
                "Come cercando" for string orchestra: 19 minutes   +  (Finlandia cd)
1996:      Three Sonnets for soprano, reciter, boys' chorus and orchestra: 24 minutes
1997:      "Musica profana" for string orchestra: 12 minutes   +  (BIS cd)
                "Concerto per voci e strumenti" for chorus and string orchestra: 14 minutes    +  (BIS cd)
                Oratorio "Amore et igne" for reciter, chorus and orchestra: 32 minutes
1998:      Symphone for chamber orchestra: 9 minutes    +  (Finlandia cd)
                "Three Wonders of the World" for Piano and String Orchestra: 4 minutes
1998/99:Cello Concerto: 28 minutes     +  (BIS cd)
2000:      Concerto Grosso for soprano saxophone, piano, percussion and orchestra: 17 minutes
                Symphony No.6: 24 minutes    +  (BIS cd)

[alberto]

The Symphony n.2 exists also on the Label CCnC (Kristian Jarvi cond., Symphony Orch. of Norrlands).

[karelm]

He was a kind and talented man, a real loss that he died so young.  I have some nice correspondences from him where he describes his plans for future works including an opera.  I was shocked and saddened by his early death.  I very much enjoy his sound world and am glad to see there is much unrecorded to continue exploring in future years.  His earlier works have a quasi-John Adams/Sibelian feel but his later works merge sparse texture, structural tautness, and tense moments of drama.  I think his late Cello Concerto and Symphony No. 6 are excellent.  Actually, I like almost everything I've heard from him.

[Dundonnell]

So do I