Kullervo (Madetoja)

Although Madetoja belonged to national romantic movement in Finland, he did not—unlike many of the movement's artists and composers, such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Jean Sibelius—often turn to the Kalevala as a source of inspiration.^[1] Indeed, Kullervo is Madetoja's only notable composition after the national epic. Madetoja was the fourth composer to tackle the subject of Kullervo.^[3] First, in 1860, Filip von Schantz wrote the Kullervo Overture (Kullervo-alkusoitto), which he had intended as the prelude to an opera; this piece premiered the same year in Helsinki at the opening of the Swedish Theatre.^[4] Second, in 1880, Robert Kajanus composed and premiered in Leipzig Kullervo's Funeral March (Kullervon surumarssi); though Wagnerian in its chromaticism, it makes use of the Finnish folk song O Mother, so pitiable and poor! (Voi äiti parka ja raukka!).^[5] Finally, in 1892, Jean Sibelius composed and premiered in Helsinki the choral symphony Kullervo, for baritone, soprano, mixed chorus, and orchestra; however, Sibelius withdrew his Kullervo in 1893, and therefore, it could not have served as a model for Madetoja;^[1] it is also unlikely that he was familiar with the pieces by von Schantz and Kajanus.^[3] Instead, the most readily-available Kalevala-themed examples would have been Sibelius's Lemminkäinen Suite (from which two numbers, The Swan of Tuonela and Lemminkäinen's Return, had been published in 1900) and Pohjola's Daughter.^[3]

Kullervo—a tragic hero from the Kalevala—inspired many artists and composers.

An advertisement promoting the 14 October 1913 premiere of Madetoja's Kullervo.

Kullervo premiered on 14 October 1913 with Madetoja conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Society.^[2] It was the final number on a program that also included other orchestral novelties by Madetoja: the Concert Overture (Konserttialkusoitto; Op. 7, 1911); Melody and Little Romance (Melodia ja Pieni romanssi; Op. 17, 1913); Dance Vision (Tanssinäky; Op. 11; 1911); Merikoski, a cantata for mixed choir and orchestra to text by V. A. Koskenniemi (Op. 10, 1911); and the original three-movement version of the Little Suite (Pieni sarja; Op. 12, 1913).^[b]