Olli Mustonen; Zoltán Kodály - Heavenly Lights (Ian Bostridge; Nicolas Altstaedt; Olli Mustonen)

Information

Composer: Olli Mustonen; Zoltán Kodály

• Mustonen - Taivaanvalot. Symphony for Tenor, Cello and Piano
• Kodály - Cello Sonatina
• Kodály - Sonata for Cello and Piano, Op. 4
• Mustonen - Cello Sonata

Ian Bostridge, tenor

Nicolas Altstaedt, cello

Olli Mustonen, piano

Date: 2026

Label: Alpha Classics

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For the fifth volume of the Lockenhaus Festival series, artistic director and cellist Nicolas Altstaedt presents an exhilarating chamber program featuring two works by Finnish composer Olli Mustonen alongside music by Zoltán Kodály. Highlighted by the world-premiere recording of Mustonen’s original chamber symphony Heavenly Lights (Taivaanvalot), the performance reunites its 2016 premiere cast: tenor Ian Bostridge, Altstaedt, and the composer at the piano. Exploring mystical folklore and deep traditions, the album pairs Mustonen's work and his 2006 Sonata with Kodály’s Sonata, Op. 4, and Sonatina for cello and piano, delivering a deeply expressive and spellbinding listening experience.

Olli Mustonen (b. 1967, Helsinki) is a Finnish composer, pianist, and conductor known for combining these roles in a distinctive and balanced musical career. He began studying piano, harpsichord, and composition at age five, later training with Ralf Gothóni and Eero Heinonen in piano and Einojuhani Rautavaara in composition. Following the tradition of musician-composers such as Rachmaninov and Busoni, Mustonen frequently appears in multiple roles within a single performance. He has collaborated with leading orchestras worldwide and served as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra (2021–2023) and Principal Guest Conductor of the Lapland Chamber Orchestra (2023–2025). Also an award-winning composer, he continues to perform internationally as a recitalist and chamber musician.

Nicolas Altstaedt (b. 1982) is a German-French cellist renowned for his versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and conductor. Trained in Detmold, Basel, and Berlin, he studied with Marcio Carneiro, Ivan Monighetti, and Boris Pergamenschikow, among others. Since his acclaimed debut with the Vienna Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, he has collaborated with leading orchestras, conductors, and period-instrument ensembles worldwide. Deeply committed to contemporary music, many composers have written major works for him, including recent award-winning concertos. Altstaedt also holds prominent artistic directorships and regularly appears at major international festivals.

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