Nordic Visions — Finnish Piano Music

Listening to the "voice" of each work, capturing the poetic essence of Nordic music through impeccably refined technique.

An anthology offering a panoramic view of Finnish piano music spanning approximately 100 years, from the early 20th century to the present. Eriko Takahashi, an artist actively performing contemporary and modern repertoire and premiering new works primarily in Japan and Europe, has been featured in Finnish music journals and has earned the trust of contemporary Finnish composers such as Nieminen and Romppanen. This album includes two pieces she premiered herself, alongside recent works, as well as compositions by Kokkonen—who has been undergoing a reevaluation in Finland in recent years—Madetoja, a devoted disciple of Sibelius, and Palmgren, often referred to as the "Chopin of the North."

• Joonas Kokkonen: Pielavesi Suite (1939)
• [1]　I. Preludietto
• [2]　II. Nocturne
• [3]　III. Rain
• [4]　IV. Clouds at Evening
• [5]　V. Morning Wind
• Leevi Madetoja: The Garden of Death (1919)
• [6]　I. Andante
• [7]　II. Poco lento
• [8]　III. Berceuse: Sostenuto ma non troppo
• Kai Nieminen: The Smile of the Flamboyant Wings (2016)
• [9]　I. Misterioso, stentando
• [10]　II. Lento e cantando
• [11]　Ari Romppanen: Erakis (2016–2017) World Premiere Recording
• Selim Palmgren: Nocturne in Three Scenes (1921)
• [12]　I. Stars Twinkling
• [13]　II. Night Song
• [14]　III. Dawn
• [15]　Ari Romppanen: Sandbox of Almach (2019–2020) World Premiere Recording

Eriko Takahashi, piano

Recorded at Gotanda Cultural Center Hall, 6-8 August 2024