Sebastian Fagerlund is one of Finland’s leading contemporary composers, renowned for music of striking imagination, emotional intensity, and a distinctive musical voice. This album brings together four chamber and ensemble works that reveal the strong artistic connections running through his output.
Beneath for string orchestra occupies a fascinating space between concerto and ensemble work. The solo violin acts as a primus inter pares—a first among equals—emerging naturally from the orchestral texture before blending back into it. The music unfolds from rising chord sequences through energetic, rhythmically driven passages to a calm and reflective conclusion.
The piano trio Remain, completed on the day Russia invaded Ukraine, is among Fagerlund’s most personal works. Quoting music by Ravel, Bach, and Brahms, its three movements form an emotionally powerful response to the events of that day and are dedicated to the people of Ukraine.
Written for the Kuopio Violin Competition, Materie is a solo violin work that combines virtuosity with expressive depth. Its two-part structure moves between introspection and intensity, demanding both technical mastery and interpretive sensitivity from the performer.
The album concludes with Finale Stilla for violin and piano, a work that develops from quiet reflection through moments of great energy before fading into a mysterious and haunting stillness.
Violinist and conductor Malin Broman is the unifying artistic presence throughout the recording. She appears as soloist, performs with the Kungsbacka Piano Trio, and conducts the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, bringing a unique perspective to this compelling portrait of Sebastian Fagerlund’s music.
