This recording explores the emotional depth, colour and inventiveness of Finnish concertante works for violin and orchestra. The pieces range across the transitional landscape of the country’s national music during the 20th century, where mysticism, modernism, folklore and experimentation co-exist. Major figures such as Selim Palmgren and Aarre Merikanto are represented, as is charming film music by Einar Englund, writing under a pseudonym. Distinctive works by Väinö Haapalainen, Väinö Raitio and Nils-Eric Fougstedt complete the programme.

Linda Hedlund studied violin at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and Baroque violin performance at the Novia University of Applied Sciences. Performing internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, Hedlund has appeared with, among others, La Tempesta, Les Solistes de Monte Carlo and the Lohja City Orchestra, as well as at many prestigious festivals across Europe, and in Carnegie Hall, New York. Her performances have been broadcast internationally on radio and television. In addition to her career as a performing artist, she is also active as teacher, and has given masterclasses at institutions around the world. In 2006 she founded the annual Emäsalo Music Festival.

Linda Hedlund has recorded Evening Dusk Serenade – lighter Finnish concertante works dating from the 1930s–1960s on 8579095, again with the La Tempesta Orchestra conducted by Jyri Nissilä. ‘This [disc] is wellworth investigating, especially if, like me, you have a soft-spot for the genre, and occasionally want some nostalgic easy-listening music, while relaxing with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee, and perhaps an over-indulgent chocolate biscuit – or two’ (MusicWeb International).

She has performed successfully as soloist and chamber musician at many prestigious festivals including Helsinki Festival, Turku Music Festival, Jyväskylän kesä festival (Finland), Musica Nova (Helsinki), Grafenegg Festival (Austria), Nancyphonies (France), Honart Festival Konzerthaus Wien, Teatro Bibiena, Mantova (Italy) and in Carnegie Hall, New York.