My finest moment

Berio Sinfonia; Calmo etc

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra/

Hannu Lintu Ondine ODE 12275 (2014)

Berio’s Sinfonia is one of the reasons I wanted to become a conductor. I’ve always admired its layers, sound and inventiveness. This was my first recording with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the first recording in our new hall which had opened that season. It was a very happy session. We realised we had a perfect recording hall and achieved something special with this monumental, complex piece. Editing and mixing it was such a pleasure. It also deepened my relationship with my new orchestra. I knew all the recordings of the Sinfonia but didn’t feel any of them really revealed all its secrets. Sometimes when you record something that’s been done several times with great conductors and great orchestras, you start to think why am I doing this. But in this case

I feel we did something differently, and added to the performance tradition.