Kreeta-Maria Kentala

Joonas Ahonen and Kreeta-Maria Kentala – Beethoven – Sonatas for piano & violin No. 8, 4 & 9 (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · December 20, 2023 · Comments off

Kreeta-Maria Kentala, who has recorded several great albums for Alba, is this time accompanied by pianist Joonas Ahonen. There have been a lot of recordings of these Beethoven sonatas, but in this recording something has been achieved that is not present in previous recordings. Joonas and Kreeta-Maria’s playing is refreshingly fresh and in good spirits. The recording was made in the Schauman hall in Pietarsaari. Joonas Ahonen’s instrument is a Conrad Graf from around 1827, a fortepiano and a baroque violin made by Kreeta-Maria Kentala at the beginning of the 20th century In the booklet, the texts contain a fascinating text written by Minna Lindgren about Beethoven and the birth of the sonatas on the disc. The novelty of Ahonen and Kentala clearly goes to the top of this art music recording spring and will probably still be there when you look at this year’s entire domestic record crop.

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Kreeta-Maria Kentala – Francœur: 10 Sonatas for Violin & Continuo, Book 1 (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · May 4, 2023 · Comments off

For her ninth recording project on Glossa, the Berlin-based American harpsichordist Mitzi Meyersonis joined by her Finnish colleagues Kreeta-Maria Kentala (violin) and Lauri Pulakka (cello). With this same setup – which they are keen to call the “Jones Band” – they have previously unearthed works for the label by Richard Jones and Giovanni Battista Somis.

The new recording is centred on François Francoeur, a celebrated member of the Vingt-quatre Violons du Roi and of Le Concert Spirituel in France, and codirector, later in his career, with François Rebel, of the Paris Opéra. The ten violin sonatas on the present double album represent the complete Premier Livre de sonates à violon seul et basse continue, published in Paris in 1720. The writing brings together the elegance of the French style and the energy of the Italian in a perfect blend of both aesthetics, with Francoeur presenting his own unique voice in this collection in an effective manner. The music is tuneful and fresh, refined and robust, complete with tender melodies, wild dances, pastorales, and movements of unabashed virtuosity.

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