Olli Leppäniemi, Clarinet
Reviews
Free-And-Easy
The Arts Desk, 10 August 2010
In the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto canzonetta.'here the woodwind, especially the free-and-easy principal clarinettist Olli Leppäniemi, were equal stars, and led us with a magical chorale into a fast and furious folk-finale'.
David Nice
Rachmaninov 2 Symphony
The Chicago Tribune, 24 April 2010
The slow movement, its clarinet solo meltingly taken by guest principal Olli Leppaniemi, was the pivot point for a reading that gloried in muscular brass, singing strings and a scherzo and finale that dazzled with their flat-out orchestral brilliance.
Beautiful
Sun Times, 24 April 2010
.........Young Finnish clarinetist, Olli Leppaniemi, principal in the Danish National Symphony, played the Adagio’s solos beautifully..............
Advanced
Information, 11 April 2010
....The tone language in Holst's Planets is quite advanced. Often the musicians play in several different keys at the same time, and the various wind soloists bid in with often wildly fabulating contributions, in particular by the new Finnish principal clarinettist, who is a tremendous asset for the orchestra....
Valdemar Lønsted
Brutal Beauty
Politiken, 13 February 2010
The Mahler Symphony no. 7 emanates brutal beauty. ...A musician like Olli Leppäniemi who has been principal clarinettist since September, impressed constantly with new approaches and angles....
Breathtaking Virtuosity
Satakunnan Kansa, Pori, Finland, 30 January 2010
"The theme of the concert, "Young conqurer of the world", obviously referred to soon thirty year old Olli Leppäniemi, and his art on the clarinet. Young talent is often emphasized in concert advertisemens, but this time there felt to be special substance to the theme of the concert. In my opinion Olli Leppäniemi could, with his interpretation of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, take the breath away from the listener anywhere in the world. This time the people of Pori had the honor to enjoy Leppäniemi's sophisticated playing. The pure beauty of the lines in the concerto came out as never before.
Leppäniemi's articulation and variations in nuances and tempi were extremely sensitive and stylish. His strong technique enabled even the longest pianissimo passages to be played with a most beautiful colour of the sound. In this performance one noticed also the exceptionally beautiful finishes of long notes.
Describing technical details does not do full justice to Leppäniemi's art. This clarinettist is a musical talent, whose playing speaks to you from beginning to end.
He trusts that the nobility of the piece of music comes through without added effects. Mozart's Clarinet Concerto is often played so the fast movements feel empty and meaningless. Now in this performance there was no hint of such emptiness.
The Pori Sinfonietta obviously enjoyed its fine soloist".
Juha-Pekka Peltonen
Nielsen Clarinet Concerto
Etelä-Saimaa, 22 January 2010
"...Leppäniemi was truly at his best while describing the most painfully, sweet and sensitive passages...The night felt special, the hall was sold out to the last seat...Leppäniemi took the listener on an imaginary trip somewhere in Denmark, so vivid were his images of nature with its storms and calms and birds, as well as folkloristic dances. ...Leppäniemi is superior in his playing, the technical passages are spot on perfect, and he can diminuendo in the most virtuoso way to such a pianissimo that it just feels like silk to ones ears...
Rauni Mali
