The Concerto No 5, Helsinki, was commissioned for the Helsinki Festival but contains no musical reference to that city. As Brouwer explains: 'I compose in Space or in Lightness and Heaviness,' referring to the titles of the first two movements, but whether he ever does so in 'Luminosity', the title of the third, we aren't told. It's a substantial work that's none the worse for its lack of memorable tunes – except to those who regard them as essential. Brouwer's fingerprints abound, especially in the first movement's gestures, made familiar in other (solo) pieces.
He has an intimate knowledge of the guitar, and uses the orchestra skilfully and imaginatively.
Renaissance composers didn't hesitate to use popular and folk tunes, so why shouldn't today's do likewise? Brouwer describes The Beatles' tunes as 'folk songs of today' and the seven in this recording are set in a variety of pastiche forms, à la Wagner, Hindemith, Stravinsky et al, a pleasing counterbalance to the serious business of the Concerto. Timo Korhonen is a superb guitarist who takes everything in his clean-fingered stride. The Tampere orchestra shares his zest, and the recording is first-class.