NEW ON NAXOS | SEPTEMBER 2023
8.574549 Release Date: 8 Sep 2023 Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH (1906–1975)
Jaap van Zweden © Eric Hong / HK Phil
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Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9 Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Jaap van Zweden
Click to listen to Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47: IV. Allegro non troppo
About Jaap van Zweden, Conductor Jaap van Zweden has conducted orchestras on three continents, appearing as a guest with the Orchestre de Paris, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Wiener Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker and London Symphony Orchestra in Europe, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic in the United States. Among his numerous recordings is the world premiere of David Lang’s prisoner of the state , which followed Julia Wolfe’s GRAMMY-nominated Fire in my mouth , both recorded with the New York Philharmonic. His acclaimed performance of Parsifal earned him the prestigious Edison Award for Best Opera Recording in 2012.
Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 was premiered in 1937. It was composed in response to the Soviet denouncement in Pravda of the composer’s most recent works. The symphony was an overwhelming success, returning the composer to favour with the authorities, and remains one of the most performed symphonies of the 20th century. The jaunty, neo-Classical character of Symphony No. 9 was in stark contrast to the ‘victory symphony’ expected by Soviet officialdom. Shostakovich’s startlingly different original draft for the opening of the first movement can be heard on 8.572138. Key Features: • Jaap van Zweden has been music director of the New York Philharmonic since 2018 and music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) since 2012. In 2018 he completed a four-year project conducting Wagner’s Ring cycle with the HK Phil, which was released on Naxos 8.501403, and critically acclaimed worldwide for a ‘thrilling sense of drama’ ( The Sunday Times, London ). • Hong Kong Philharmonic ’s most recent recordings include the Tenth Symphonies of Mahler and Shostakovich (8.574372): ‘Under the Dutch conductor, this orchestra has flourished; strings are perfectly moulded… Van Zweden’s pace is forward- moving but not rushed, the sound and balances in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre superb’ ( BBC Music Magazine ), and ‘The Shostakovich is characterised by the same expansiveness… an interesting and thoughtful coupling’ ( Gramophone ). • The year after Van Zweden was appointed music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Naxos released his performance of Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1 as a soloist (8.573271): ‘Van Sweden’s virtuosity as a violinist…is here shown to be of the highest class’ ( Musical Opinion ).
DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
MASTERED FOR
Dmitry SHOSTAKOVICH Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9 Benjamin BRITTEN (1913–1976) Four Sea Interludes * Only available for download and streaming
9.50302 * Release Date: 8 Sep 2023
Companion Titles – Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic
Companion Titles – Dmitry Shostakovich, Composer
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