Mahler composed his “Lied von der Erde” in a phase of loneliness, but still: the seven Chinese poems that he set into very personal symphonic songs also spread a message of consolation. The Münchner Philharmoniker, one of the world’s leading Mahler orchestras, Tugan Sokhiev, Ekaterina Gubanova and Andreas Schager deliver a gripping performance.
Tugan Sokhiev conducts Mahler 4
The Münchner Philharmoniker under Tugan Sokhiev and with Christiane Karg’s delicately intimate and clear soprano voice lead the audience through a rousing Mahler Fourth, drawing an arc from radiant blue skies to cracks in the firmament and from the hope of heavenly life to the end of everything earthly.
Andris Nelsons conducts Mahler 2
At the Leipzig Mahler Festival 2023, the Gewandhausorchester under the baton of Music Director Andris Nelsons and together with soloists Nicola Hillebrand and Gerhild Romberger as well as the MDR-Rundfunkchor, present a rousing performance of Gustav Mahler’s Second (“Resurrection”), gauging the full rollercoaster of musical extremes between death and resurrection.
Daniel Harding conducts Mahler 7
Daniel Harding and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra perform Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 that oscillates between carefree lightness and grueling darkness like no other in his symphonic canon, their joint interpretation being praised as “the best there is.” (LVZ)
Iván Fischer conducts Mahler 9
In 2023, the Budapest Festival Orchestra and their founder Iva´n Fisher celebrated 40 years together on stage. Mahler’s Ninth has been a staple in their joint repertoire, their interpretation being praised in particular for its straightforward clarity. At the Leipzig Gewandhaus, they deliver a breathtaking performance to standing ovations.
St. John Passion
In 2024, J. S. Bach’s “St John Passion” celebrates 300 years since its creation. To celebrate this milestone, the Thomanerchor and Gewandhausorchester Leipzig under Thomaskantor Andreas Reize present the masterpiece at St. Thomas Church Leipzig in its original version, together with a star cast of soloists and Julian Prégardien as the evangelist.
Collegium 1704 play Handel
In the beautiful setting of famous castle Slavkov-Austerlitz, the two most-known works of George Frideric Handel, “Water Music” and “Music for the Royal Fireworks”, were filmed with Collegium 1704 under the musical direction of Va´clav Luks, one of the most fascinating ensembles specializing in historically informed performance. PROGRAM Handel: Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks
On Air – 100 Years of Radio Orchestras
The subject of radio orchestras is a global phenomenon that had its origins in Germany and is associated with exciting stories, great conductors, outstanding soloists and, above all, contemporary composers. The 56-minute documentary “On Air – 100 Years of Radio Orchestras” is the first comprehensive look at how they developed – a cultural history from the technological age closely linked to the history of the 20th century. At the same time, it explores their vision for the future. A film about tradition and innovation, identity, new music and the radio itself.
Nelsons conducts Weinberg, Schnittke & Tchaikovsky
Many composers dedicate their works to important people or quite often to the musicians premiering them. In his Violin Concerto No° 4, Alfred Schnittke not only prefaced the piece with the dedication to the premiering soloist Gidon Kremer. He also put this dedication into music and placed it at the very beginning of the concerto, known as the “Kremer theme”. Kremer, who turns 75 in February 2022, performed this concerto for the first time at the Leipzig Gewandhaus under the baton of fellow Latvian Andris Nelsons. Nelsons and the Gewandhausorchester also performed Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1, Winter Dreams. PROGRAM: Weinberg: Jüdische Rhapsodie; Schnittke: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 4; Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 1
Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos
Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos rank among the most popular works of Baroque music, just like Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. To mark their 300th anniversary in 2021, Accentus Music recorded six Brandenburg Concertos in Köthen Castle’s restored Hall of Mirrors with Collegium 1704 on historical instruments. Founded by Václav Luks in 2005, the orchestra is one of the most renowned ensembles of our time specializing in baroque music. Given the great stylistic and structural diversity of these concertos, Collegium 1704 was the perfect choice to record this UHD HDR production at this historic location.