Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra & Edward Gardner - Schoenberg: Gurre-Lieder (2016) [Hi-Res]

Tracklist
---------
CD1
01. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Orchestral Prelude
02. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Nun dämpft die Dämm'rung jeden Ton
03. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: O, wenn des Mondes Strahlen leise gleiten
04. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Ross! Mein Ross! Was schleichst du so träg!
05. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Sterne jubeln, das Meer, es leuchtet
06. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: So tanzen die Engel vor Gottes Thron nicht
07. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Nun sag' ich dir zum ersten Mal
08. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Es ist Mitternachtzeit
09. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Du sendest mir einen Liebesblick
10. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Du wunderliche Tove!
11. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Orchestral Interlude
12. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Tauben von Gurre! Sorge quält mich
13. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 1: Den Sarg sah ich auf Königs Schultern

CD2
01. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 2: Herrgott, weisst du, was du tatest
02. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Erwacht, König Waldemars Mannen wert!
03. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Deckel des Sarges klappert
04. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Gegrüsst, o König
05. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Langsam
06. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Mit Toves Stimme flüstert der Wald
07. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Ein seltsamer Vogel ist so'n Aal
08. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Du strenger Richter droben
09. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Der Hahn erhebt den Kopf zur Kraht
10. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Des Sommerwindes wilde Jagd. Orchestral Prelude
11. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Herr Gänsefuss, Frau Gänsekraut
12. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Still! Was mag der Wind nur wollen?
13. Gurre-Lieder, Pt. 3: Seht die Sonne

Recorded live in the sumptuous acoustic of Grieghallen in Bergen, this mind-blowing interpretation of Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder involves 350 performers: large choral forces, six exceptional soloists, and the legendary Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra – extended for the occasion – all conducted by Edward Gardner.

Marking the pinnacle of the Orchestra’s 250th anniversary celebrations, the same forces offered two evening concerts that met with unanimous acclaim in the press, including a five-star review from The Daily Telegraph praising the ‘sweep of Gardner's conducting, by turns luminous and incisive’. It added, ‘He unleashed the piece’s volcanic passions while never becoming mired in its high-calorific density, and somehow avoided drowning the singers’, and also congratulated the ‘heroic’ Stuart Skelton, ‘warm’ Alwyn Mellor, ‘ethereal’ Anna Larsson, and ‘powerful’ Thomas Allen.

“... Stuart Skelton’s Waldemar is superb and a triumph ... with such firm baritonal warmth, subtle colouring and vivid projection of text that Skelton’s could well be the finest account in terms of storytelling... Gardner’s concept sweeps all before it; a slow burn that gains such intensity that the final chorus is a satisfying blaze of light. The sound quality is glorious – miraculously so considering the constraints of live recording... “ (Warwick Arnold, limelightmagazine.com.au)

“... an enormously impressive achievement ... Gardner’s operatic experience means he’s alive to the lyricism and drama of the piece in equal measure: there’s ardent longing aplenty and a real willingness to explore the sheer gorgeousness of the score, as well as a powerful send of drama where required ...” (Hugo Shirley, Gramophone)

DOWNLOAD IsraCloud [flac]

DOWNLOAD IsraCloud [Hi-Res]