Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, Marek Janowski - H.W. Henze Edition: Sinfonia (2026)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Symphony No. 1 for chamber orchestra: I. Allegretto, con grazia
02. Symphony No. 1 for chamber orchestra: II. Notturno. Lento
03. Symphony No. 1 for chamber orchestra: III. Allegro con moto
04. Symphony No. 6 for two orchestras: I. Allegro con moto
05. Symphony No. 6 for two orchestras: II. Lento
06. Symphony No. 6 for two orchestras: III. Allegro vivace

CD2
01. Symphony No. 2 for large orchestra: I. Lento - Allegro
02. Symphony No. 2 for large orchestra: II. Allegro molto vivace
03. Symphony No. 2 for large orchestra: III. Adagio
04. Symphony No. 10 for large orchestra: I. Ein Sturm
05. Symphony No. 10 for large orchestra: II. Ein Hymnus
06. Symphony No. 10 for large orchestra: III. Ein Tanz
07. Symphony No. 10 for large orchestra: IV. Ein Traum

CD3
01. Symphony No. 3 for large orchestra: I. Anrufung Apolls
02. Symphony No. 3 for large orchestra: II. Dithyrambe
03. Symphony No. 3 for large orchestra: III. Beschwörungstanz
04. Symphony No. 4 for large orchestra
05. Symphony No. 5 for large orchestra: I. Movimentato
06. Symphony No. 5 for large orchestra: II. Adagio
07. Symphony No. 5 for large orchestra: III. Moto perpetuo

CD4
01. Symphony No. 7 for large orchestra: I. Tanz
02. Symphony No. 7 for large orchestra: II. Ruhig bewegt
03. Symphony No. 7 for large orchestra: III. Unablässig in Bewegung
04. Symphony No. 7 for large orchestra: IV. Ruhig, verhalten
05. Symphony No. 8 for large orchestra: I. Allegro
06. Symphony No. 8 for large orchestra: II. Allegramente con comodo tenerezza e ballabilità
07. Symphony No. 8 for large orchestra: III. Adagio

CD5
01. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: I. Die Flucht
02. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: II. Bei den Toten
03. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: III. Bericht der Verfolger
04. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: IV. Die Platane
05. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: V. Der Sturz
06. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: VI. Die Nacht im Dom
07. Symphony No. 9 for mixed choir and orchestra: VII. Die Rettung

Hans Werner Henze is one of the outstanding composers of the 20th century. To mark his 100th birthday, the “Hans Werner Henze Edition” brings together all the recordings released by the Wergo label, some of which were supervised by Henze himself—an extensive collection that does not claim to be exhaustive, yet serves as an impressive testament to a versatility that echoes Henze’s cosmopolitan outlook: in terms of cultural history, politics, and society, as well as form and composition.

The recordings, some of which are out of print, are being recompiled for the edition, organized into groups of works, and will be released in five sets in 2026. The symphonies will kick off the series, followed by orchestral works and instrumental concertos, chamber music and piano music, vocal music, and, finally, stage works, including the previously unreleased recording of “Der Prinz von Homburg.”

Nearly 50 years lie between the composition of Hans Werner Henze’s First Symphony in 1947 and his Tenth, which was completed at the turn of the millennium. The literary and political references are wide-ranging, spanning from ancient mythology to the Cuban Revolution and on to the “Seventh Cross,” with the Ninth serving as a grand choral symphony; from work to work, one can trace Henze’s development as a composer up to the sublime mastery of his late works. With his ten symphonies, Henze created one of the most monumental symphonic cycles of the 20th century.