Canto

Room 40 follow last year's "Echos+" stunner with a new collection of work from octogenarian Argentinian composer Beatriz Ferreyra, showcasing her exceptional psychedelic electronics, apocalyptic concrète experimentation and disorienting synth wandering.

This new recording by Ondine includes the world premiere recordings of four works by the celebrated Finnish contemporary composer Einojuhani Rautavaara (b. 1928). Rubáiyát (2015) is a song cycle based on the poetry of Omar Khayyam (10481131). The work was written for Gerald Finley who in this recording sings the solo part of the orchestral version of the work. Balada (2014), based on texts by Lorca, is a large-scale work for tenor, mixed choir and orchestra. Tenor Mika Pohjonen sings as the soloist.

An historical recording of the first performance in Athens, of "Canto General", the "Bible of South America" composed by Mikis Theodorakis, on the poetry of the Nobelist Chilean "national poet", Pablo Neruda. Maria Farantouri and Petros Pandis are singing in spanish, the original Neruda lyrics. They are backed by the National Chorus of France, the Percussions of Strasbourg and a Greek Folk Orchestra with two great bouzouki soloists. This live recording is unique, since it immortalized the superb enthousiastic atmosphere created by 75.000 applauding spectators. A collector's item.