Langgaard's music was deeply religious, serving as a means to fight his spiritual struggles and express his fascination with the triumph of evil over good, and the battle between light and dark.
Composer Biography
Langgaard began piano lessons at age five and within two years had mastered Chopin's mazurkas and Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze, showing early prodigious talent.
Performer Biography
Ilya Stupel, the conductor on this album, is a rising star in the musical firmament, described as one of the greatest conducting talents in the world, known for his unorthodox and vital interpretations.
Notable Performances
Langgaard's first symphony was premiered in 1913 by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Max Fiedler, establishing him as a highly gifted young composer.
Composer Biography
Rued Langgaard, the composer, was the only child of two pianists, Siegfried and Emma Langgaard, and grew up in a household steeped in classical-romantic Danish music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Langgaard's music is characterized by its powerful and direct nature, full of contrasts and primitivism, with constant swings in mood, reflecting his immediate and pure sentiment.
Compositional Technique
Langgaard's masterful orchestration created unexpected sonorities and harmonic effects, often prescribing unusual doublings like piccolo and E flat clarinet together, and using an eclectic selection of percussion.
