Johannes Brahms: Piano Trio C Major Op. 87
Elina Vähälä, violin
Eun-sun Hong, cello
Kyu Yeon Kim, piano

Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto
Elina Vähälä, violin
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra

Max Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1
Elina Vähälä, violin,
Andrew Manze, conductor
Tapioca Sinfonietta

Alexander Liebreich
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937)
Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35
Elina Vähälä, violin

Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871-1972)
Lyric Symphony, Op. 18
Johanna Winkel, soprano
Michael Nagy, baritone

Listen on:

2023

Under the direction of its Chief Conductor Alexander Liebreich, the National Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio (NOSPR) is the leading ensemble in the country and is one of Europe’s major radio orchestras. As cultural ambassadors with a rich tradition, the orchestra has made its mark through performances of Polish composers, as is impressively documented in the three-part CD cycle that features works by Karol Szymanowski and Witold Lutoslawski and was released by Accentus Music between 2015 and 2017.

On this new recording, Karol Szymanowski‘s Violin Concerto, played by Finnish violin virtuoso Elina Vähälä, is paired with the impressive Lyric Symphony of Austrian composer and conductor Alexander von Zemlinsky that builds a bridge between lyric poetry and the grand orchestral symphonies. The excellent soloists of this recording are Johanna Winkel, soprano, and Michael Nagy, baritone.

Szymanowski Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 35

Jaakko Kuusisto
Lahti Symphony Orchestra

John Corigliano (b. 1938)
Violin Concerto 'The Red Violin'
Elina Vähälä, violin

Jaakko Kuusisto (1974–2022)
Violin Concerto, Op. 28
Elina Vähälä, violin

Listen on:

2013

Under the direction of the late composer and conductor Jaakko Kuusisto, the Lahti Symphony Orchestra presents a recording that is deeply personal to the soloist. This album marks a significant collaboration between Elina Vähälä and Kuusisto, showcasing a unique synergy where the conductor is also the composer of one of the featured works.

The centerpiece is John Corigliano’s "The Red Violin" Concerto, expanded from his Oscar-winning film score into a virtuoso orchestral work. It is paired with Jaakko Kuusisto’s own Violin Concerto, written specifically for Vähälä. Her performance balances the cinematic drama of Corigliano with the rhythmic intensity and Nordic lyricism of Kuusisto’s writing, confirming her status as one of the work’s definitive interpreters.

Corigliano & Kuusisto: Violin Concertos

Olari Elts
Kymi Sinfonietta

Kalevi Aho (b. 1949)
Violin Concerto No. 2
Elina Vähälä, violin

Cello Concerto No. 2
Jonathan Roozeman, cello

Listen on:

2023

This recording presents two major recent works by the renowned Finnish composer Kalevi Aho, performed by the Kymi Sinfonietta under the baton of Olari Elts. Both concertos were written specifically for this orchestra, taking advantage of its specific size and acoustic properties.

Elina Vähälä features as the soloist in the Violin Concerto No. 2, a work composed with her specific artistry in mind. The concerto is characterized by its broad lyrical arches and intense virtuosity, balancing the solo violin against a transparent yet colorful orchestral backdrop. Pairing this with the Cello Concerto No. 2, played by rising star Jonathan Roozeman, the album offers a comprehensive look at Aho’s modern concerto style-deeply expressive, technically demanding, and rooted in the Finnish tradition.

Kalevi Aho: Violin Concerto No. 2 & Cello Concerto No. 2

Elina Vähälä, violin
Niek de Groot, double bass

Works by:
Krzysztof Penderecki (1933–2020)
Isang Yun (1917–1995)
Jaakko Kuusisto (1974–2022)
Erkki-Sven Tüür (b. 1959)
Alfred Huber (b. 1962)
György Kurtág (b. 1926)
Wolfgang Rihm (b. 1952)

Listen on:

2018

When the highest and lowest members of the string family meet, two distinct sound spheres collide. For this adventurous recording, Elina Vähälä joins forces with the celebrated Dutch double bass soloist Niek de Groot to explore a repertoire that demands both "acrobatic abilities" and deep musical sensitivity.

The album features seven works by contemporary composers, including Krzysztof Penderecki, Wolfgang Rihm, and a piece by Jaakko Kuusisto ("Miniö") dedicated to the duo. Instead of merely contrasting the instruments, Vähälä and de Groot create a unified "super-instrument," navigating through the intense dialogue of Rihm’s Dyade and the meditative textures of Isang Yun. Critics have praised the recording for its "impeccable accuracy" and the "sophistication worthy of the best musical dialogues."

Duos for Violin & Double Bass

Alba Records

Virtuosi di Kuhmo
Chamber Orchestra

Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Violin Concerto in C Major, Hob. VIIa:1
Violin Concerto in A Major, Hob. VIIa:3 ('Melk')
Violin Concerto in G Major, Hob. VIIa:4
Elina Vähälä, violin

Listen on:

2009

Recorded with the renowned Finnish chamber orchestra Virtuosi di Kuhmo, this album showcases Elina Vähälä’s profound affinity for the Classical repertoire. The collaboration highlights a seamless and vibrant musical dialogue, bringing out the elegance, wit, and emotional depth characteristic of Haydn's early concertos.

The recording features three of Joseph Haydn's surviving violin concertos—in C major, A major (often called the 'Melker Konzert'), and G major. Vähälä’s interpretation is widely celebrated for its immaculate sound, rich nuances, and virtuosic brilliance, perfectly capturing the synthesis of late Baroque tradition and emerging Classical forms.

Haydn, J.: Violin Concertos, Hob.Viia:1, 3, 4

Classic Produktion Osnabrück

Oliver Triendl
Piano

Robert Kahn (1865–1951)
Violin Sonatas Nos. 1, 2 & 3
5 Tonbilder, Op. 36
Suite in D Minor, Op. 69
Elina Vähälä, violin

Listen on:

2016

Recorded in collaboration with the acclaimed German pianist Oliver Triendl, this extensive double album explores the deeply romantic and often overlooked repertoire of composer Robert Kahn. The recording highlights a seamless musical partnership, bringing Kahn’s highly imaginative melodies and rhythmic energy to the forefront.

The collection features Kahn’s three sweeping violin sonatas alongside his evocative character pieces, including the 5 Tonbilder and the Suite in D Minor. Vähälä and Triendl deliver a masterful interpretation, perfectly balancing the lyrical beauty of the violin with the virtuosic demands of the piano in the late-Romantic tradition.

ROBERT KAHN: THE WORKS FOR VIOLIN & PIANO