Juhani Lagerspetz - Jouni Kaipainen: SOUTH BY NORTHEAST (2025)

After a long break, the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, which celebrates its 95th anniversary this year, is releasing a new album featuring the world premiere of works by the orchestra's late principal composer Jouni Kaipainen. The album SOUTH BY NORTHEAST features conductor Hannu Lintu and Juhani Lagerspetz as soloist in the piano concerto. The album continues Tampere Philharmonia's collaboration with Alba Records.

Jouni Kaipainen (1956-2015) was a polymath and Renaissance figure in new Finnish music who, despite his untimely death, managed to create a rich and wide-ranging output of compositions. The Tampere Filharmonia was Kaipainen's ‘second family’ and home orchestra, having moved from Helsinki to Tampere, and premiered many of his major works in the 2000s. He composed many works for the orchestra, including symphonies, concertos and chamber music works. Close collaboration with the Tampere Philharmonic enriched the repertoire of both the orchestra and Kaipainen, and brought his music to the attention of a wider audience.

On the new album, the orchestra is conducted by Hannu Lintu, the composer's trusted maestro who served as chief conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic from 2009 to 2013. Lintu has a distinguished international conducting career and has taken Kaipainen's music to the world.

The album SOUTH BY NORTHEAST, released on 20 May 2025, features Kaipainen's Piano Concerto, interpreted by pianist Juhani Lagerspetz. This is the first performance of the monumental Piano Concerto op. 55. Lagerspetz and the Radio Symphony Orchestra premiered the work in 1997.

In addition to the Piano Concerto, the album features Kaipainen's North by Northeast, commissioned by the Nordic Music Council. The title refers to Alfred Hitchcock's blockbuster film A Dangerous Romance (1959), which ends with a struggle for the giant presidential sculptures of Mount Rushmore in the United States. In Kaipainen's composition, the transition from the city to the middle of nature takes place in Finland, and the journey could begin on a train from Helsinki or Tampere, heading north-east towards the hilly regions of Savo-Karelia. The guide seems to have been Sibelius and his Tapiola.

In the album's closing track, Beninese Morning Song (Aubade beninoise), the composer unloads the positive culture shock of his African journey. The song takes listeners through West African rhythms to the whirlwind of Finnish shamanism.

Juhani Lagerspetz, piano
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, conductor

TRACKLIST

1. Juhani Lagerspetz, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra & Hannu Lintu - Kaipainen: Piano Concerto Op. 55: I Allegro con spirito, ma un poco nervoso
2. Juhani Lagerspetz, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra & Hannu Lintu - Kaipainen: Piano Concerto Op. 55: II Larghetto - Largo misterioso
3. Juhani Lagerspetz, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra & Hannu Lintu - Kaipainen: Piano Concerto Op. 55: III Allegro con brio – Meno allegro, ma con slancio – Molto allegro
4. Juhani Lagerspetz, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra & Hannu Lintu - Kaipainen: North by North-East Op. 63
5. Juhani Lagerspetz, Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra & Hannu Lintu - Kaipainen: Aubade beninoise, Op. 86b, Beniniläinen aamulaulu