Kalevi Aho is a preeminent Finnish composer whose musical legacy is marked by its breadth, profundity and a strong penchant for instrumental concertos. Born on March 9, 1949, in Forssa, Finland, Aho has established himself as one of the most prolific and widely performed composers of his generation. He embarked on his musical studies at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where he honed his craft under the tutelage of renowned Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, and later, at the Berlin University of the Arts with Boris Blacher.

Over the decades, Aho has composed a vast array of works, encompassing symphonies, chamber music, operas, and a remarkable number of concertos for various instruments. His fascination with the unique qualities and potentials of different instruments is reflected in his extensive catalogue, which frequently seeks to push the boundaries of the soloist and ensemble interplay. Aho often collaborates closely with musicians to explore and exploit the full range of each instrument's capabilities, resulting in a richly detailed and innovative oeuvre.

Notable among his recent contributions to contemporary classical music are the albums "Kalevi Aho: Concerto Works for Recorder, Tenor Saxophone & Accordion" and "Kalevi Aho: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Cello Concerto No. 2", which showcase his masterful dialogue between soloist and orchestra. His compositions, such as the "Double & Triple Concertos" and the "Sieidi & Symphony No. 5", illustrate a deft command of both symphonic structure and solo virtuosity. Aho's commitment to exploring new sonic territories is further evident in works like the "Theremin Concerto & Horn Concerto" and "Symphony No. 15, Double Bass Concerto & Minea", affirming his status as a daring and inventive force in the modern classical music arena.

Genres

Contemporary Classical

Finnish Contemporary Classical

Nordic Contemporary Classical

Related Artists

Bernd Alois Zimmermann

Karl Amadeus Hartmann

Roberto Gerhard

Vagn Holmboe

Andrzej Panufnik

Brett Dean

Magnus Lindberg

Hans Werner Henze

Walter Piston

Isang Yun

Sebastian Fagerlund

Latest Release

Kalevi Aho: Guitar Concerto; Quintet for Horn; Contrapunctus XIV

Kalevi Aho

Album - 12 Tracks - Released May 24, 2024