Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 2 in C minor
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly
Soloists: Christiane Oelze (Soprano), Sarah Connolly (Mezzo-Soprano)
Choirs: MDR Rundfunkchor, Berliner Rundfunkchor, GewandhausChor
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and their Music Director Riccardo Chailly have already acquired legendary status – glorious reviews and many awards for their recordings testifying to their continuing success. At Leipzig’s International Mahler Festival, to mark the centenary of Mahler’s death, they performed his monumental Second Symphony in the Gewandhaus – together with two marvellous soloists and choral forces quite beyond compare. About the final movement the composer said: “The increasing tension, working up to the final climax, is so tremendous that I don’t know myself, now that it is over, how I ever came to write it.” The painting “Morgenrot” was chosen by internationally acclaimed artist Neo Rauch to feature on the cover of this release on DVD and Blu-ray.
“… the clarity, range and depth of sound, allied to the exceptional quality of the singing and playing, are certain to impress.” – Gramophone Magazine
“… the bright tone of the strings, the slightly dry timbre of the brass and the delicacy of the woodwinds all illuminate this ‘Resurrection’ Symphony.” – Diapason