Erkki Rautio. Bach Cello Suites. Finlandia CD FACD 200. Review of Tidal stream.
Recorded January to June 1990 at Roihuvuoren Kirkko
CD Release 1991. Digital release 2011
No information available about cello played or set up.
The cellist.
Rautio is Finnish and has studied with Enrico Mainard and with Pierre Fournier. He appears to have stayed close to home most of his life and focussed on teaching at the Sibelius Academy. There is very little information available on the internet in English. Here is a link to one mention from a former pupil.
https://www.cellobello.org/cello-blog/teaching-2/understanding-teachers-part-2/
This, together with a dearth of recordings would lead one to expect a rather unimpressive recording. However, do read on!
The recording.
The original 1991 release of this on CD is scarce. I listened via Tidal to MQA coded CD quality file via full MQA decoding with a Cambridge DACmagic 200 .
The initial impression of this recording is of an impressive full soundstage, with the cello range fully captured especially the lower registers which impresses in the fifth and third Preludes especially. Quite quickly, however I became aware of the room acoustic with audible reverberation adding a “swirling” sound to the background. This for me is as intrusive as the knocks, breathing and other additions one can hear from close microphone use. Essentially it sounded as though the venue chosen for the recording was making its presence felt. Information regards the venue was available and internet search provided the following image.
Clearly a very impressive modern building! I am no expert, and it is an assumption that the main room pictured was the site of the recording, but the combination of high ceiling and wooden vaulted ceiling must surely be the culprit! I expect it sounds very impressive in a live concert setting but for recording it would give the sound engineers a severe headache!
The music.
The impact of the room on the overall sound is a great pity because the interpretation and playing is top drawer for me. The overall style is very similar to the recording of David Geringas that I have reviewed recently. In places, very powerful but where it is needed in Sarabandes and slower Allemandes very sensitive and even delicate. Faster movements are played with vigour and rhythm. Furthermore, great technical mastery is evident at all times, with the third and sixth gigues sounding very exciting. There must be something about living near the Baltic sea that invogourates!
In many ways this is an unremarkable intepretation. There is modest vibrato, a presumed modern set up, with good articulation at all times. The tempos are all very much in the mainstream and there are no unusual quirks or surprises. That being said it does provide for a very relaxed and satisfying listen.
Conclusion.
Were it not for the acoustic of the space used for the recording this would be a strongly recommended recording. It can really only be accessed via download or stre1aming. The latter is the obvious way of making up ones mind about the recording itself. If you like a good bit of reverberation then this may well be one for you!
Charles.