“… The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and Hannu Lintu are on livewire form in this recording [Symphony No 2], made live in concert in 2019. The darkly intense mood continues with the orchestral song-cycle, Die Nacht der Vorlenen (The Night of the Lost) … Larcher sets fragments by the late Austrian poet Ingeborg Bachmann, entering a world that is more night than day, more shadow than sunlight. Baritone Andre Schuen’s vocal colours are a good match for Larcher’s music, the orchestra weaving a web around him, with accordion adding piquancy.  Hannu Lintu has the measure of Larcher’s language, and this is an excellent introduction to his music.”   ****

Performance *****      Recording ****

“… Larcher’s language is rooted in the Austro-German symphonic tradition with use of 21st-century colour (for example, the varied percussion – carefully mixed on the palette rather than splashed about as afterthought). The chaotic Gerald Barry-meets-Mahler Scherzo is painstakingly realised by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra…”

Pizzicato Supersonic

“… André Schuen models his narrative singing in a finely articulated manner, with a great textual comprehensibility, just as Larcher would wish. His powerful voice has a great volume and still seems natural. He translates the fragile lyrics very flexibly, relaxed manner. The Finnish music scene not only produces extraordinary conductors time and again, but has also made an audible leap in the quality of its orchestras. The Radio Orchestra, conducted here by Hannu Lintu, is more than equal to these works. The rich instrumentation is also powerfully orchestrated, but always remains transparent and structured. In addition to the rich percussion apparatus, all the other orchestral groups are also convincing. Lintu shows the way through the waves of the scores with an equally sure hand that stirs up emotions.”