Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 & Brahms: Nänie James Gaffigan

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Fidelio, Op. 72:
• 1 O welche Lust (Chor der Gefangenen), 05:59
• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897):
• 2 Nänie, Op. 82 13:13
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125:
• 3 I. Allegro ma non troppo 15:02
• 4 II. Molto vivace 11:26
• 5 III. Adagio molto e cantabile 12:56
• 6 IV. Presto 09:50
• 7 V. Allegro assai vivace alla marcia 13:37
• Total Runtime 01:22:03

Info for Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 & Brahms: Nänie

The countdown is on for Beethoven's 250th birthday in 2020. The composer still stands for independence of mind, for revolutionary ideas, for music that reaches far beyond his own time. To celebrate, Sony Masterworks presents this outstanding interpretation of his famous 9th symphony from the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra under the baton of it's chief conductor James Gaffigan, following up their "Beethoven Project" (complete piano concertos) from autumn 2017. This release also features the orchestra's version of the famous "Prisoners' Chorus" from Fidelio, as well as "Nänie" by Johannes Brahms, an unjustly rarely performed masterwork. This highly original combination of one of Beethoven's best loved symphonies features the exquisite soloists Rachel Harnisch, Ekaterina Semenchuk, Mauro Peter and Hanno Müller-Brachmann.

Mauro Peter, tenor
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, bass baritone
Ekaterina Semenchuk, mezzo-soprano
Rachel Harnisch, soprano
Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
Zürcher Sing-Akademie
James Gaffigan, conductor

James Gaffigan
born in New York, won first prize at the 2004 Sir Georg Solti International Conducting Competition. He is currently Chief Conductor of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln.

He is also in great demand with leading orchestras throughout the world. Guest engagements have included the Münchner Philharmoniker, Staatskapelle Dresden, DSO and RSO Berlin, Leipzig and Stuttgart Radio Orchestras; BBC Symphony, London Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Rotterdam Philharmonic, Zurich Tonhalle, Camerata Salzburg, Czech Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, and Sydney Symphony. In the USA, he has worked with the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago, San Francisco, St Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Minnesota, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Baltimore, and National Symphony Orchestras.

Following his debut at the Vienna State Opera with La Bohème in the 2011/12 season, he was immediately invited back for Don Giovanni in 2012/13. A continuing relationship with Glyndebourne has seen him conduct La Cenerentola, Falstaff, and Così fan tutte. US appearances have included Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro at the Aspen Music Festival and Figaro at Houston Opera.

Booklet for Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 & Brahms: Nänie