Mariss Jansons, the conductor, conceived the idea of juxtaposing Beethoven's symphonies with commissioned works by contemporary composers, such as Johannes Maria Staud and Misato Mochizuki, to create an "artistic dialogue" across centuries.
Recording & Production
The Beethoven symphonies on this album were recorded live in Tokyo's Suntory Hall on November 27, 2012, during a tour of Japan.
Performer Biography
Mariss Jansons, the conductor, was born in Riga in 1943, studied violin, piano, and conducting, and completed his education as a student of Hans Swarowsky and Herbert von Karajan.
Recording & Production
This album is part of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks's first and only complete Beethoven symphony cycle under chief conductor Mariss Jansons, now made commercially available.
Critical Reception
The Beethoven symphony cycle, of which this album is a part, was highly praised by the international press, with Gramophone magazine comparing the orchestra to the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Toscanini.
Performer Biography
Mariss Jansons has received numerous awards, including a Grammy for his recording of Shostakovich's 13th Symphony and the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize for his life's work as a conductor.
