IDAGIO | Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8 - Widmann: Con brio 4035719001372

Featuring

Mariss Jansons
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Ludwig van Beethoven
Jörg Widmann

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Composition History

The idea for juxtaposing Beethoven's symphonies with commissioned works by contemporary composers, such as Jörg Widmann's 'Con brio', came from conductor Mariss Jansons.

Composer Biography

Jörg Widmann, whose 'Con brio' is featured on this album, has a dual career as an internationally acclaimed clarinettist and a leading German composer.

Critical Reception

The Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks's complete Beethoven symphony cycle under Mariss Jansons has been highly acclaimed, with Gramophone magazine comparing it to the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Toscanini or the Berlin Philharmonic under Karajan.

Interpretation

Conductor Mariss Jansons's approach to Beethoven's symphonies is described as 'new, modern and transparent-sounding'.

Performer Biography

Mariss Jansons, the conductor on this album, studied violin, piano, and conducting, and was a laureate of the Karajan Competition in Berlin in 1971.

Compositional Technique

Jörg Widmann's 'Con brio' does not quote Beethoven directly but rather 'assumes the gesture' of his music, focusing on 'postmodern' elements and 'deconstruction'.

Recording & Production

This album features live recordings from a 2012 tour of Japan by the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and conductor Mariss Jansons, with additional recordings from Munich.