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Wiener Symphoniker & Philippe Jordan – Brahms Symphonies

Artists: Wiener Symphoniker & Philippe Jordan

Title: Brahms Symphonies (4 CD Box)

Catalogue No.: WS021

Release: 07.08.2020

Description

After the critically acclaimed recording of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, the Wiener Symphoniker present now under the direction of their outgoing Music Director Philippe Jordan another cyclical recording: The Symphonies by Johannes Brahms.
It had taken 14 years of preparatory work before Brahms ventured to complete his First Symphony in 1876. The four symphonies that emerged in the following decade are not only touching measurements of the human soul’s landscape but also the central creative legacy of the great romantic composer.
All four symphonies were recorded live in the Golden Hall of the Wiener Musikverein in autumn 2019 – a hall that arguably meets the tonal requirements of the works like no other. After all two of the four symphonies had been premiered here while the other two had been performed here for the first time in Austria.
This latest CD production by the Wiener Symphoniker marks the end of Philippe Jordan’s tenure as Music Director of the traditional Viennese orchestra but also represents the culmination of their internationally celebrated artistic collaboration.

With the new publication, the Wiener Symphoniker are presenting the twenty-first release on their eponymous label founded in 2012.

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Wiener Symphoniker – Beethoven Symphonies 1-9 (5-CD-Box)

Artists: Wiener Symphoniker

Title: Beethoven Symphonies 1-9 (5-CD-Box)

Catalogue No.: WS018

Release: 01.11.2019

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Description

The Road to Beethoven

For the first time in their history, the Wiener Symphoniker now release a complete Beethoven symphonies cycle on CD. The Wiener Symphoniker wrote music history with the first performances of works by Bruckner, Ravel and Schoenberg. And under the baton of such illustrious music directors as Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Carlo Maria Giulini or Georges Prêtre they acquired worldwide fame for their unique Viennese sound. Considering its rich, more than a century long history, it comes as a surprise that the orchestra has never before recorded a full cycle of the nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven which are widely considered to constitute the apex of the symphonic repertoire.  

This shortcoming is about to be remedied: In October 2019, the Wiener Symphoniker now release the full cycle on 5 CDs in a Box. The full cycle is now completed just in time for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven in 2020.  The symphonies were recorded live during a critically acclaimed concert cycle in Spring/Summer 2017 in the Great Hall of the Musikverein Wien.

Beethoven’s nine symphonies — composed between 1800 and 1824 — are true cornerstones of the classical canon. Marking an irrefutable turning point in the history of music, they transformed audiences’ expectations of the symphony and influenced the genre’s future development through their experimental, dramatic and expressive weight. Conductors have long been drawn to the profundity of these works: a complete cycle of Beethoven symphonies is viewed as one of the ultimate challenges in the repertoire.

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Wiener Symphoniker – Beethoven Symphonies 9

Artist: Wiener Symphoniker

Title: Beethoven Symphonies 9

Catalogue No.: WS 017

Release: 13.09.2019

Description

The four releases in the Wiener Symphoniker’s first full recorded Beethoven’s symphony cycle met with universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Now the fifth part, in the form of the Symphony No. 9, is being released. The CD is part of the Wiener Symphoniker’s Road to Beethoven, a project to prepare for the year 2020, the 250th anniversary of the composer, a towering father-figure for classical music.

With this new release, the Wiener Symphoniker are hoping to follow up on the great success of their four CDs in the cycle. Both the first CD with Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 and the second with Nos. 4 and 5 have been picked as “CD of the month” by various international music magazines.  The latest release Nos. 6 and 8 was awarded in France for Trophées Classique Radio. Based on these releases, the British Gramophone magazine nominated the orchestra for “Orchestra of the Year 2018”. In particular, the magazine praised Jordan’s approach of combining the classic Viennese sound with a more modern, leaner interpretation, original tempos and insights from historically informed performance. For Jordan, the content of the music was paramount. His goal was not to revere Beethoven as a monument but rather to present him in a more “natural, direct and personal” way.

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Wiener Symphoniker: Hector Berlioz – Symphonie fantastique & Lelio

Artist: Wiener Symphoniker

Title: Symphonie fantastique op. 14 & Lélio, ou le retour a la vie, Op. 14b

Catalogue No.: WS020 (2 CDs)

Release: 24.05.2019

Description

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Hector Berlioz’s death, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Philippe Jordan dedicated a programmatic focus to the French composer in the 2018-19 season. In this context, in November 2018, Philippe Jordan presented the frequently performed Symphonie fantastique op. 14 in the Wiener Musikverein, her rarely heard sister work Lélio ou Le retour à la vie op. 14b. The acclaimed concert experience now also appears as a live recording on the orchestra’s own label of the orchestra. Soloists include not only tenor Cyrille Dubois and baritone Florian Sempey, but also the acclaimed French bass Jean-Philippe Lafonte as narrator and the Singverein led by Johannes Prinz.

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Wiener Symphoniker – Beethoven: Symphonies 6 & 8

Artist: Wiener Symphoniker

Title: Beethoven: Symphonies 6 & 8

Catalogue No.: WS 016

Release: 15.02.2019

Description

In February 2019, the penultimate part of the Wiener Symphoniker’s first recorded Beethoven cycle will appear with Symphonies No. 6 and 8.

This CD is the continuation of the orchestra’s Road to Beethoven project, an undertaking in preparation of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Viennese by choice and patriarch of classical music in 2020. Following the huge success of the respective releases of the cycle so far, the expectations are high indeed. The third part featuring Symphonies No. 2 and 7 received numerous accolades and ranked high in the annual best lists of international critics. The German classical music magazine Concerti, for instance, praised: “There, Philippe Jordan with the Wiener Symphoniker succeeded in creating something amazing: The symbiosis of the fine Viennese sound and the directness and transparency of historical performance practice, dynamically flexible and driven by emphasis.” The Wiener Symphoniker wrote music history with the premieres of works by Bruckner, Ravel and Schönberg. Under the direction of such illustrious conductors as Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Carlo Maria Giulini or Georges Prêtre, it gained worldwide fame for its Viennese sound style. In light of this more than hundred-year magnificent history, it is all the more astonishing that the Orchestra has never so far recorded Beethoven’s nine symphonies, which are often described as the peak of the symphonic repertoire.

This gap in the Orchestra’s discography has been in the process of being closed since autumn 2017: The Orchestra is releasing all nine symphonies of the great Viennese by choice at half-yearly intervals on a total of five CDs. The whole cycle will then be available on the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in 2020. They were recorded live under the direction of Music Director Philippe Jordan in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.

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Wiener Symphoniker – Beethoven Symphonies 2/7

Artists: Wiener Symphoniker

Title: Beethoven Symphonien 2/7

Catalogue No.: WS 015

Release: 21.09.2018

Description

With this publication, the Wiener Symphoniker want to build on the great success of the first two CDs of the cycle. Both the first CD with Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 and the second with Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 were awarded CD’s of the month by various international specialist magazines. The British Gramophone Magazine nominated the orchestra on the basis of the publication of the Orchestra of the Year 2018. Particularly praised were Jordan’s approach to mute Viennese sound culture with a contemporary, leaner interpretation, original tempos and insights from historical performance practice. For Jordan, the focus was on content: Beethoven should not be honored as a monument, but be presented “more naturally, more directly and more humane”.

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Wiener Symphoniker – Beethoven: Symphonies 4 & 5

Title: Beethoven: Symphonies 4 & 5

Catalogue No.: WS 014

Release: 23.02.2018

Description

In February 2018, the Wiener Symphoniker and their Music Director Philippe Jordan present the second CD in their first complete recording of the Beethoven symphonies. With his Fifth Symphony, Beethoven created a true symphonic icon. It is as universally known above all thanks to its powerful opening bars. Its parallels with its predecessor, the Fourth, are less prominent than those with, for example, its successor the Sixth. Nevertheless, the Fourth features many ideas that would only be fully elaborated in the Fifth. “The connection”, Jordan emphasises, “is more a matter of the spirit of the works, but is no less important for all that.”

As with the first, enthusiastically received first CD, this recording was made live in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein as part of an acclaimed cycle during 2017. International critics were especially pleased with Jordan’s approach, which combines Wiener Klang, the distinctive Viennese instrumental style, with a contemporary and pared-back interpretation while incorporating insights from historically informed performance and original tempi. But for Jordan, the content is the main focus: instead of venerating Beethoven the monument, he wants to show him in a “more natural, direct and human” way.

Tracklist

Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major op.60 
1 Adagio – Allegro vivace 11:03
2 Adagio 8:41
3 Allegro vivace 5:44
4 Allegro ma non troppo 6:45
Symphony No. 5 in c minor op. 67
5 Allegro con brio 6:59
6 Andante con moto 8:47
7 Allegro 7:46
8 Allegro 10:41
Total Running Time 66:25

Wiener Symphoniker – Beethoven: Symphonies 1 & 3

Title: Beethoven: Symphonies 1 & 3

Catalogue No.: WS013

Release: 29.09.2017

Description

The Road to Beethoven
For the first time in their history, the Wiener Symphoniker will release a complete Beethoven symphonies cycle on CD

The Wiener Symphoniker wrote music history with the first performances of works by Bruckner, Ravel and Schoenberg. And under the baton of such illustrious music directors
as Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Carlo Maria Giulinior Georges Prêtrethey acquired worldwide fame for their unique Viennese sound. Considering itsrich, more than a century long history, it comes as a surprise that the orchestra has never before recorded a full cycle of the nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven which are widely considered toconstitute the apex of the symphonic repertoire.

This shortcoming is about to be remedied: Starting in autumn 2017, the Wiener Symphoniker will release the full cycle on 5 CDs. With a new CDof the series to be released every 6 months, the full cycle will be completed just in time for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven in 2020. The symphonies were recorded live during a critically acclaimed concert cycle in Spring/Summer 2017 in the Great Hall of the Musikverein Wien.

At these concerts, the international press specifically praised Jordan’s approach to combininga traditional Viennese sound with a more contemporary, slimmed down interpretation of the material, original tempi and insights from the historically informed performance practice. Through a close reading of the score and by focusing  on the content of the works,Jordan aimed to create – in his words – a “more natural, direct, humanised“ image of the famous composer.

A key work for this approach constitutes, in Jordan’s mind, the Third Symphony E-flat major op.55 „Eroica“ – which will be included on the firstCD of the series alongside the First Symphony C Major op. 21. According to Jordan, both works are unified in their portrayal of Beethoven‘s immense, innovative, revolutionary creative will.  In its perusal of thePrometheus-myth the “Eroica” has additional meaning for Jordan’s depiction of Beethoven as an essentially modern and human composer: “In the way Beethoven uses the Prometheus theme, the composer reveals his fascination for the eventual failing of mankind not his heroic deeds.”

The first CD of the Wiener Symphoniker’sBeethoven cycle will be released on 13 October in the UK and on 20 October in the US. For further info, video and interviews visit www.symphoniker.at.

Tracklist

Track Individual Titel Duration
Symphony No. 1 in C major op. 21
1 Adagio molto – Allegro con brio 8:45
2 Andante cantabile con moto 6:57
3 Menuetto.Allegro molto e vivace 4:05
4 Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace 5:27
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major op. 55 “Eroica”
5 Allegro con brio 16:39
6 Marcia funebre (Adagio assai) 12:58
7 Scherzo (Allegro) 5:46
8 Finale (Allegro molto-Poco Andante-Presto) 11:23
Total Running Time 72:01

Wiener Symphoniker – Frühling in Wien: Springtime in Vienna

Title: Frühling in Wien: Springtime in Vienna

Catalogue No.: WS 011

Release: 06.01.2017

Description

Manfred Honeck leads the prestigious Wiener Symphoniker on a musical journey through Austria

For more than 40 years the Wiener Symphoniker’s traditional Springtime in Vienna concert has been one of the great highlights of the Austrian capital’s musical calendar. Broadcast on live TV, featuring renowned conductors and a bouquet of spirited melodies the orchestra has thus driven out the winter and rang in the arrival of the new season.
For the first time ever the 2016 edition, conducted by one of Austria’s greatest present day conductors, Manfred Honeck, has been recorded and will be released on CD worldwide on 6 January 2017. The CD contains a colourful programme, including the Third Movement from Beethoven’s Pastoral as well as special “delicacies” from Max Schönherr, Carl Michael Ziehrer and excerpts from Richard Strauss’ rarely performed ballet “Schlagobers” (Whipped Cream).

This new release will be the 11th on the orchestra’s own label and the second they recorded with Manfred Honeck after a critically acclaimed album with favourites from the Strauss-Dynasty. The label’s catalogue also includes historical recordings from the orchestra’s archives with Sergiu Celibidache, Carlos Kleiber and Carlo Maria Giulini as well as new recordings with Philippe Jordan, Fabio Luisi, Lahav Shani amongst others.

Tracklist

Track Titel Zeit Komponist
1 “Hereinspaziert!”, waltz op. 518 07:52 Carl Michael Ziehrer
2 Overture from the Burlesque “Dichter und Bauer” (“Poet and Peasant”) 10:04 Franz von Suppé
3 Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastorale”, 3rd movement (Allegro “Merry gathering of country folk”) 05:19 Ludwig van Beethoven
4 “Tänze aus Österreich” op. 25, 5th movement (“Schleifer”) 01:34 Max Schönherr
5 “Tänze aus Österreich” op. 25, 7th movemenet (“Die 7 Sprünge”) 02:23 Max Schönherr
6 “Tänze aus Österreich” op. 25, 8th movement (“Bauerngalopp”) 02:48 Max Schönherr
7 “Tanz des Kaffee’s” (“Coffee Dance”) from the ballet “Schlagobers” (“Whipped Cream”) op. 70 TrV 243 01:48 Richard Strauss
8 “Träumerei” (“Nocturne”) from the ballet “Schlagobers” (“Whipped Cream”) op. 70 TrV 243 07:37 Richard Strauss
9 “Finale” from the ballet “Schlagobers” (“Whipped Cream”) op. 70 TrV 243 04:53 Richard Strauss
10 “Weana Mad’ln” (“Viennese Girls”), waltz op. 388 (Arr.: Max Schönherr) 09:51 Carl Michael Ziehrer
11 “Praterfahrt anno 1880”, gallop op.2a 03:04 Max Schönherr
12 “Wien über alles” (“Vienna above all”), polka fast op. 172 02:06 Eduard Strauss

Wiener Symphoniker – Der Karneval der Tiere

Künstler: Wiener Symphoniker
Titel: Der Karneval der Tiere – Große zoologische Fantasie mit neuen Texten von Willi Weitzel

Katalog Nr.: WS 010

Veröffentlichung: 30.09.2016

 
 
 

Produktbeschreibung

Karneval der Tiere: tierischer Spaß nicht nur für das Publikum von morgen.

Die jüngste Veröffentlichung der Wiener Symphoniker auf dem hauseigenen Label stellt eine Premiere in gleich mehrfacher Hinsicht dar. So dokumentiert die CD die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit des Orchesters mit Lahav Shani, der ab der Saison 2017-18 der Erste Gastdirigent des Klangkörpers ist. Darüber hinaus ist die CD die erste Veröffentlichung von „Young Symphony“, dem Kinder- und Jugend-Programm der Wiener Symphoniker. Zu hören sind zwei Klassiker der Musikvermittlung: Camille Saint-Saëns’ Karneval der Tiere mit neuen Texten des populären TV-Moderators Willi Weitzel und Benjamin Brittens Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.  Die wunderbaren Melodien und Klangfarben des Karnevals sprechen einfach alle an. Und man kann hören, wie viel Spaß Lahav und die Musiker bei der Aufnahme hatten.  Auch die Zusammenarbeit mit dem Grimme-Preisträger Willi Weitzel (er ist u.a. Grimme-Preisträger für Willi wills wissen im Bayerischen Rundfunk), der für den Karneval der Tiere neue Texte ersonnen und eingesprochen hat, stellt eine Premiere für das Orchester dar.

 

Tracklist

„Der Karneval der Tiere“, Große zoologische Fantasie mit neuen Texten von Willi Weitzel
„Mucksmäuschenstill lag ich …” 02:57
Einleitung und Marsch des Löwen 01:54
„Mit hochrotem Kopf …“ 01:32
Hennen und Tröthahn 00:50
„Es schneite“ 00:37
Zu Eseln verkleidete Weißbartgnus 00:34
„Drei Chamäleon-Mütter …“ 00:34
Schildkröten 01:36
„War das schön!“ 01:10
Elefant 01:12
„Die Elefanten verneigten sich …“ 00:54
Kängurus 00:55
„Ein Marabu bahnte …“ 01:01
Aquarium 02:14
„Den Bratschen blieb …“ 00:57
Wesen mit langen Ohren 00:45
„Hätte ein gewöhnlicher …“ 00:41
Der Kuckuck aus den Tiefen des Waldes 02:08
„Die einheimischen Vögel …“ 00:33
Vögel 01:11
„Nun lächelte der …“ 00:42
Klavier-Zebras 01:10
„Angespornt durch diese …“ 00:21
Fossilien 01:18
„Vergnügt hopsten alle …“ 01:15
Der Schwan 02:37
„Ein fauchender Schrei …“ 01:38
Finale 02:04
„The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra“, Variationen und Fuge zu einem Thema von Henry Purcell
„Hallo, ich bin’s …“ 03:53
Thema A: Gesamtes Orchester 00:26
Thema B: Holzbläser 00:25
Thema C: Blechbläser 00:20
Thema D: Streicher 00:18
Thema E: Schlaginstrumente 00:16
Thema F: Gesamtes Orchester 00:26
Variation A: Flöten 00:27
Variation B: Oboen 00:57
Variation C: Klarinetten 00:44
Variation D: Fagotte 00:47
Variation E: Violinen 00:40
Variation F: Bratschen 00:51
Variation G: Violoncelli 01:07
Variation H: Kontrabässe 00:58
Variation I: Harfe 00:47
Variation J: Hörner 00:48
Variation K: Trompeten 00:31
Variation L: Posaunen 01:01
Variation M: Schlaginstrumente 01:49
Fuge: Gesamtes Orchester 02:59
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