Work of the Week – Olli Mustonen: Concerto No. 2 "Larin Paraske"

By Christopher Peter
2 Dec 2024

Olli Mustonen, composer and pianist, smiles warmly at the camera. He wears a white shirt, vest, and tie, with one hand touching his head.

On December 6, 2024, Olli Mustonen's second violin concerto, Concerto No. 2 "Larin Paraske", will have its world premiere at Musiikkitalo in Helsinki. Violinist Elina Vähälä will perform alongside the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Nicholas Collon. Commissioned by the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, this work serves as a musical portrait of the Finnish rune singer Larin Paraske.

Olli Mustonen's Second Violin Concerto: A Musical Portrait of Larin Paraske

The Concerto No. 2 "Larin Paraske" lasts approximately 25 minutes and is divided into four movements, each reflecting Mustonen’s artistic vision and his inspiration from Larin Paraske. The first movement, “So sang Larin Paraske,” captures the rhythmic and energetic essence of her rune singing. The second movement, “Paraskes Jugend,” portrays the singer’s early years with delicate, lyrical sounds. The third movement, “Mit Gottes Bäumen sprechen,” transports listeners into a contemplative, almost spiritual soundscape, interpreting nature as a backdrop to Paraske’s legacy. The fourth and final movement, “Apotheosis,” concludes the work with a dramatic and radiant culmination.

Who was Larin Paraske?

Larin Paraske (1833–1904) was a prominent Finnish rune singer whose extensive collection of folk songs and poems significantly contributed to Finnish culture. Her dedication to preserving oral traditions has inspired many artists and composers, including Olli Mustonen. Mustonen had already been inspired by the runic song tradition and created a musical monument to the singer Jehkin Iivana in the composition of the same name for guitar.

“I have felt that with the help of music it could be possible also to convey some of the untranslatable and at times even hypnotic and shamanistic qualities of this poetry to an audience not fluent in our unusual language.” – Olli Mustonen

Additional Violin Concert Performances This Week

For violin enthusiasts, the week of December 2–8, 2024, offers a wide array of notable performances. In St. Pölten, Jörg Widmann’s Violin Concerto No. 2 showcases its unique tonal palette. In Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Riga, and Košice, Pēteris Vasks’ Concerto No. 1 "Tālā gaisma" moves audiences with its emotional depth. Lugano will feature Jean Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D minor, a cornerstone of the repertoire. In Utrecht, Karl Amadeus Hartmann’s Concerto funebre will be performed, a powerful statement against war and oppression. Cologne’s Gürzenich Orchestra presents Toshio Hosokawa’s Violin Concerto "Genesis", exploring themes of nature and spirituality. Finally, Schaffhausen will host Pēteris Vasks’ Vox amoris, a work that celebrates the power of love.

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