Biography (read more)

Ralf Gothóni was born in Rauma, Finland, on 2 May 1946 and made his orchestral debut at fifteen. Pianist, conductor — often both at once from the keyboard — chamber musician, composer and author, he has recorded some hundred albums, led the Savonlinna Opera Festival and the English Chamber Orchestra, and taught Olli Mustonen among many others.

Gothóni is Finland’s musical omnivore: his Schubert and Brahms with singers, his Mozart directed from the keyboard, and his advocacy of Finnish repertoire run through a discography of unusual breadth. In this catalogue he appears chiefly as the complete musician-accompanist — the Nordic counterpart to Demus and Jansen.

Sources:

Repertoire

Musette Op. 27 No. 3— Composer not established
10 Bagatelles, Op. 34: No. 1, Valse— Jean Sibelius
Pieni satu Op.31 No.3 [A small tale]— Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947)
Collan: Rose-Marie— Composer not established
Valsette Op.17 No.2— Heino Kaski (1885-1957)
Morning Song Op.2 No.3 [Aamulaulu]— Toivo Kuula (1883-1918)
Kuula: Lampaan polska— Composer not established
Neljä kansanlaulua— Composer not established
Merikanto: Pai, pai, paitaressu, Op. 2 No. 1— Oskar Merikanto
Häätanhu [Wedding dance]— Vilho Luolajan-Mikkola (1911-)
Toukokuun yö, Op. 27 No. 4 (May Night)— Selim Palmgren
Merikanto: Kesäilta Op.1— Composer not established
Pieni romanssi Op.17 No.2 [Little romance]— Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947)
Hannikainen: Marja-Liisa Op.18 No.3— Composer not established
Valse à la Chopin, Op. 6 No. 5— Oskar Merikanto
Backman: Sunnuntaiaamuna— Composer not established
Miss’ soutaen tuulessa, Op. 90 No. 1 (Where Rustling Birches Bend)— Oskar Merikanto
Järnefelt: Berceuse— Composer not established
Kuin hiipuva hiillos tummentuu, Op. 47 No. 2 (Like the Dying Embers Grow Dark)— Oskar Merikanto
Kaksi kansanlaulua 1— Composer not established
Valse lente— Oskar Merikanto
Kaksi kansanlaulua 2— Composer not established
Hannikainen: Taas leivoset ilmassa— Composer not established
Concerto grosso No. 6: I. Andante— Alfred Schnittke
Concerto grosso No. 6: II. Adagio— Alfred Schnittke
Concerto grosso No. 6: III. Allegro vivace— Alfred Schnittke
Introduction and Tango Overture, Op. 74b— Aulis Sallinen
Chamber Music IV, Op. 79, “Metamophoses of Elegy for Sebastian Knight”— Aulis Sallinen
Sextet for Wind Quintet & Piano, FP 100: I. Allegro vivace— Francis Poulenc
Sextet for Wind Quintet & Piano, FP 100: II. Divertissement (Andantino)— Francis Poulenc
Sextet for Wind Quintet & Piano, FP 100: III. Finale (Prestissimo)— Francis Poulenc
Choros No. 11: I. —— Heitor Villa-Lobos
Choros No. 11: II. —— Heitor Villa-Lobos
Choros No. 11: III. —— Heitor Villa-Lobos
Kyllikki, Op. 41: No. 1. Largamente – Allegro— Jean Sibelius
Kyllikki, Op. 41: No. 2. Andantino— Jean Sibelius
Kyllikki, Op. 41: No. 3. Commodo— Jean Sibelius
10 Pieces, Op. 24: No. 10. Barcarole— Jean Sibelius
5 Pieces, Op. 75, “The Trees”: No. 1. Kun pihlaja kukkii (When the Rowan Tree Flowers)— Jean Sibelius
5 Pieces, Op. 75, “The Trees”: No. 2. Yksinainen bonka (The Lonely Pine)— Jean Sibelius
5 Pieces, Op. 75, “The Trees”: No. 3. Haapa (The Aspen)— Jean Sibelius
5 Pieces, Op. 75, “The Trees”: No. 4. Koivu (The Birch)— Jean Sibelius
5 Pieces, Op. 75, “The Trees”: No. 5. Kuusi (The Spruce)— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 1. Valse— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 2. Air de danse— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 3. Mazurka— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 4. Couplet— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 5. Boutade— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 6. Reverie— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 7. Danse pastorale— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 8. Joueur de harpe— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 9. Reconnaissance— Jean Sibelius
10 Little Pieces, Op. 34: No. 10. Souvenir— Jean Sibelius
5 Esquisses, Op. 114: No. 1. Maisema (Landscape)— Jean Sibelius
5 Esquisses, Op. 114: No. 2. Talvikuva (Winter Scene)— Jean Sibelius
5 Esquisses, Op. 114: No. 3. Metsalampi (Forest Lake)— Jean Sibelius
5 Esquisses, Op. 114: No. 4. Metsalaulu (Song in the Forest)— Jean Sibelius
5 Esquisses, Op. 114: No. 5. Kevatnaky (Spring Vision)— Jean Sibelius
Valse triste, Op. 44, No. 1 (version for piano)— Jean Sibelius
Finlandia, Op. 26 (version for piano)— Jean Sibelius
Piano Sonata No. 15 in C Major, D. 840, “Reliquie”: I. Moderato— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 15 in C Major, D. 840, “Reliquie”: II. Andante— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 15 in C Major, D. 840, “Reliquie”: III. Menuetto: Allegretto— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 15 in C Major, D. 840, “Reliquie”: IV. Rondo: Allegro— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 164, D. 537: I. Allegro ma non troppo— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 164, D. 537: II. Allegretto quasi andantino— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 164, D. 537: III. Allegro vivace— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 16 in A Minor, Op. 42, D. 845: I. Moderato— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 16 in A Minor, Op. 42, D. 845: II. Andante, poco mosso— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 16 in A Minor, Op. 42, D. 845: III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 16 in A Minor, Op. 42, D. 845: IV. Rondo: Allegro vivace— Franz Schubert
Fantasy in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760, “Wandererfantasie”: I. Allegro con fuoco, ma non troppo— Franz Schubert
Fantasy in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760, “Wandererfantasie”: II. Adagio— Franz Schubert
Fantasy in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760, “Wandererfantasie”: III. Presto— Franz Schubert
Fantasy in C Major, Op. 15, D. 760, “Wandererfantasie”: IV. Allegro— Franz Schubert
Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: I. Gnomus— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: II. Old Castle— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: III. Tuileries— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: IV. Bydlo— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: V. Ballet of the Chickens in their Shells— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: VI. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: VII. The Market-Place at Limoges— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: VIII. Catacombae (Sepulcrum romanum)— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: IX. Con mortuis in lingua mortua— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: X. The Hut on Fowl’s Legs (Baba-Yaga)— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition: XI. The Great Gate at Kiev— Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 1. Nase vecery (Our…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 2. Listek odvanuty (A…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 3. Pojd’te s nami!…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 4. Frydecka Panna…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 5. Stebetaly jak…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 6. Nelze domluvit!…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 7. Dobrou noc! (Good…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 8. Tak neskonale uzko…— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 9. V placi (In Tears)— Leos Janacek
Po zarostlem chodnicku (On the Overgrown Path) , Book 1, JW VIII/17: No. 10. Sycek neodletel!…— Leos Janacek
The Firebird Suite (arr. G. Agosti) : II. Dance Infernale— Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird Suite (arr. G. Agosti) : VI. Berceuse— Igor Stravinsky
The Firebird Suite (arr. G. Agosti) : VII. Finale— Igor Stravinsky
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: I. Molto moderato— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: II. Andante sostenuto— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace con delicatessa— Franz Schubert
Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-Flat Major, D. 960: IV. Allegro, ma non troppo— Franz Schubert
16 German Dances, Op. 83, D. 783— Franz Schubert
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 45: I. Con grandezza— Einojuhani Rautavaara
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 45: II. Andante— Einojuhani Rautavaara
Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 45: III. Molto vivace— Einojuhani Rautavaara
Piano Concerto No. 2: I. In viaggio— Einojuhani Rautavaara
Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Sognando e libero— Einojuhani Rautavaara
Piano Concerto No. 2: III. Uccelli sulle passioni— Einojuhani Rautavaara
Keyboard Concerto in D Major, Hob.XVIII:11: I. Vivace— Franz Joseph Haydn
Keyboard Concerto in D Major, Hob.XVIII:11: II. Un poco Adagio— Franz Joseph Haydn
Keyboard Concerto in D Major, Hob.XVIII:11: III. Rondo all’ Ungherese: Allegro assai— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto in F Major, “Kleines Konzert”: I. Tempo di guisto— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto in F Major, “Kleines Konzert”: II. Adagio ma non troppo— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto in F Major, “Kleines Konzert”: III. Allegro assai— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto in F Major, Hob.XVIII:F2: I. Moderato— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto in F Major, Hob.XVIII:F2: II. Adagio— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto in F Major, Hob.XVIII:F2: III. Allegro assai— Franz Joseph Haydn
Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (1945 revised Version) : I. Toccata— Benjamin Britten
Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (1945 revised Version) : II. Waltz— Benjamin Britten
Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (1945 revised Version) : III. Recitative and Aria— Benjamin Britten
Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (1945 revised Version) : IV. Impromptu— Benjamin Britten
Piano Concerto, Op. 13 (1945 revised Version) : V. March— Benjamin Britten