There is no better composer alive today than Finland's Einojuhani Rautavaara, and this disc contains three exceptional works that together showcase the breadth and range of his inspiration. "Cantus Arcticus" is the composer's most famous piece, a "concerto" for taped bird sounds with orchestra. This is much more than a gimmick; the music provides the perfect sonic environment for the various bird calls, but more to the point, it represents one of the very few totally successful compositions integrating pre-recorded tape with acoustic instruments. The First Piano Concerto is a slam-bang virtuoso piece that would grace any concert program, while the Third Symphony, which takes Bruckner as its starting point, is a masterpiece that blows away the oft-expressed contention that there's no great music in traditional forms being written today. The performances are fully as fine as any available, and the sound is unobtrusively excellent.

--David Hurwitz