British Press Reviews on Kullervo

…A similarly early work by Sibelius accompanied Kraft in this

Philharmonia concert: his five-movement symphonic epic Kullervo. Salonen

conducted a dynamic performance that emphasised the primeval emotions of

its mythical tale, capped by the breathtakingly virile singing of the

Helsinki Polytech Choir…

…Esa-Pekka Salonen conducted with considerable ferocity,

and there was some dynamic playing from the Philharmonia.

The Helsinki Polytech Choir was extraordinary in the choral

narratives…

…Sibelius’s grand vocal symphony Kullervo may have

structural flaws, but the ideas and energy that fly from its

pages are so volcanic in force that the listener is happily

swept along. Salonen and his forces gave their all. The male

voices of Helsinki’s Polytech Choir sailed splendidly over

the orchestra, setting the scene for the doleful drama

lifted from Kalevala, Finland’s national epic…

…The Philharmonia gave a scorching performance of this

fearsome legendary tale of rape and suicide, and the

Polytech Choir of Helsinki was in blood-curdlingly fine form

vocally, as were the soloists Monica Groop and Jorma

Hynninen…

…The the latest Philharmonia concert on Sunday, which

offered [Lindberg’s] 1985 Kraft with all due violence, after

a superb performance of Sibelius’ early Kullervo epic…