Englund

Finnish composer, pianist, composition teacher and music critic Einar Englund was born in Ljugam on June 17th, 1916, and studied with Bengt Carlson at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. On a recommendation from Sibelius, possibly on the basis of his piano quintet, he continued his studies with Aaron Copland at Tanglewood. He fought in World War II, an experience which inspired at least some of his earlier works. Gaining tumultous acclaim for his first two symphonies, Englund rose to prominence in the period immediately following World War II, where his music's resemblance to the works of Shostokovich and Prokofiev attracted the attention of music lovers and critics alike. A composer who didn't belong to any modern school or trend, he over the years continued to enrich and refine his distinctive personal style. Englund died in Ljugam on June 27th, 1999.

Thorbjörn "Thobbe" Englund, lead guitarist of Sweden's Sabaton, released his second solo album filled with super-intense, high-quality guitar playing and a fantastic tone. Due on May 22 via Lion Music, "From The Wilderness" was composed and recorded while Englund was touring the world with Sabaton. Englund previously released five albums with his first band Winterlong, two albums with Star Queen and his first solo album, "Influences", on Lion Music before joining Sabaton.

It’s simply astonishing that Einar Englund’s Piano Concertos have not become firm staples of the repertoire. Each possesses the crowd-pleasing elements of concertos by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Bartók, and Ravel, but are wholly original rhythmic and harmonic tours de force with nary a note wasted in the process. For some time, collectors have been content to rely on Naxos’ estimable recording of the First Piano Concerto, but this new version from Ondine blows it away and quickly establishes itself as the reference against which all others (if there are any) will be judged. Matti Raekallio’s incredibly sure-footed playing blends seamlessly with the Tampere Philharmonic’s enthusiastic and feisty accompaniment, and the recorded sound comes through with a beguilingly natural presence, especially in the renderings of the piano’s timbre and the silky sheen of the violins.

Uuno Klami write his Violin Concerto during World War II and it was premiered in Stockholm in 1944. The piece was lost during the war and Klami completed a new version in 1954. Klami is known for the strong influences he takes from French music and from Stravinsky. Known for his exceptionally wide repertoire and a great sense of musicality, Benjamin Schmid is one of the most versatile violinists of today. Described as "one of the most valuable of today's golden-age-violinists".