The Gürzenich-Orchester of Cologne has a pedigree second to none—counting Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss among those who have entrusted it with premieres of their works—and when you hear this new recording the reasons for this are clear. Devastating brass combines with mellifluous winds and strings in a performance of Schoenberg’s late Romantic masterpiece.
Markus Stenz conducts a fine line-up of soloists and marshalls the massed choirs in this most epic of works.
NORMAN LEBRECHT ALBUM OF THE WEEK
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE RECORDING (AUGUST 2015)
PRESTO CLASSICAL DISC OF THE WEEK (29TH JUNE 2015)
GRAMOPHONE CRITIC'S CHOICE 2015
GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE RECORDING (AUGUST 2015)
PRESTO CLASSICAL DISC OF THE WEEK (29TH JUNE 2015)
GRAMOPHONE CRITIC'S CHOICE 2015
‘Excellent performances throughout from orchestra, soloists and choruses—rarely have the lush textures of Schoenberg’s late-Romantic cantata sounded this fresh’ (Gramophone)
BBC Music Magazine
The Guardian
BBC Music Magazine The Guardian