Having had to review my fair share of “concept” albums over the years, this well-curated and equally well-played and recorded CD was like fresh alpine mist. The Oulu Sinfonia was a new name to me: it’s Finland’s northernmost ensemble, founded in 1937, and comprises 61 professional musicians (but sounds much larger when its needs to). It boasts people like John Storgårds among its music directors and this CD is yet another feather in the cap of Rumon Gamba and his indefatigably adventurous tastes. 

Naturally, the program contains Sibelius, but it also provides a fascinating behind the scenes insight into the thriving creative musical culture in the latter years of 19th- and (mostly) early-20th-century Finland. What prevented me giving the DG release of Yannick-Nezet–Seguin’s recent Rachmaninov five stars (despite the sublime playing and superb engineering) was the perfunctory liner notes: Shame on you DG!) Here, the notes are exemplary with details down to the exact birth and death dates of every composer featured plus a description and origins of the music featured!  

Most of the composers are extremely obscure, but all the music is without exception well worth...