Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Performer: Karina Gauvin, Daniel Behle, Regula Mühlemann, RIAS Kammerchor
Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalogue: 4797337
Release: 2017
Size: 3.5 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 11
01. 1. Allegro di molto
02. 2. Andante
03. 3. Minuetto. Allegro molto – Trio
04. 4. Allegro con fuoco
Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 ‘Lobgesang’
05. 1a. Sinfonia – Maestoso con moto – Allegro
06. 1b. Sinfonia – Allegretto un poco agitato
07. 1c. Sinfonia – Adagio Religioso
08. 2a. Chorus. Allegro moderato maestoso “Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn”
09. 2b. Molto più moderato ma con fuoco “Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele”
10. 3a. Recitative: “Saget es, die ihr erlöst seid durch den Herrn”
11. 3b. Allegro moderato. “Er zählet unsre Tränen”
12. 4. Chorus. A tempo moderato. “Sagt es, die ihr erlöst seid”
13. 5. Duet & Chorus. Andante. “Ich harrete des Herrn” – “Wohl dem, der seine Hoffnung setzt!”
14. 6. Allegro un poco agitato “Stricke des Todes hatten uns umfangen” – “Die Nacht ist vergangen”
15. 7. Chorus. Allegro maestoso e molto vivace. “Die Nacht ist vergangen”
16. 8. Chorale. Andante con moto – Un poco più animato. “Nun danket alle Gott”
17. 9. Andante sostenuto assai. “Drum sing’ ich mit meinem Liede ewig dein Lob”
18. 10. Chorus. Allegro non troppo “Ihr Völker, bringet her dem Herrn Ehre und Macht!” – “Danket dem Herrn und rühmt seinen Namen”
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 ‘Scottish’
19. 1. Andante con moto – Allegro un poco agitato – Assai animato – Andante come prima
20. 2. Vivace non troppo
21. 3. Adagio
22. 4. Allegro vivacissimo – Allegro maestoso assai
Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ‘Italian’
23. 1. Allegro vivace
24. 2. Andante con moto
25. 3. Menuetto. Con moto moderato
26. 4. Saltarello. Presto
Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107 ‘Reformation’
27. 1. Andante – Allegro con fuoco
28. 2. Allegro vivace
29. 3a. Andante
30. 3b. Recitative
31. 4. Chorale: “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott” – Allegro vivace – Allegro maestoso
2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the European Reformation, started by Martin Luther in 1517. To honor this occasion, Deutsche Grammophon is releasing a new interpretation of the complete Mendelssohn symphonies, crowned by a recording of the Reformation Symphony No. 5.
The symphonies were recorded in February 2016 during a celebrated Mendelssohn festival over the course of two days at the Philharmonie de Paris – all under the baton of young, exciting conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Music Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Designate of the Metropolitan Opera New York.
This release is the first complete symphonic cycle to be recorded at the new Philharmonie de Paris, which opened in January 2015!
For this recording, Christopher Hogwood’s editions of the symphonies were chosen because of their particular importance for the Reformation symphony:
Mendelssohn, the often self-critical (and self-revising!) composer, who “in the process of trying to reduce the work to a length suitable for its celebratory function, [he] cut out one entire movement preceding the Finale, a passage that expands on the flute cadenza and prepares the arrival of the chorale theme with more engaging musical drama”. (Christopher Hogwood)
The original version of the work may now be listened to in its entirety!
This release underlines a strong ongoing collaboration with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe that already culminated in a successful release of the complete Schumann symphonies (March 2014) and the continuing Mozart Opera Cycle. Two instalments of the latter have been nominated for a Grammy: Le Nozze di Figaro and Die Entführung aus dem Serail.