Complete symphonies and piano gems
This month’s round-up includes visits to Germany, Georgia and Latvia
Over the past few years, the Berlin Philharmonic has lavished care and attention on the presentation of its box-sets. Gustav Mahler – Symphonies 1-10 (Berlin Phil BPHR200361), comprised of 10 CDS and four Blu-rays, is similarly lavish. The orchestra has a long history with these works – Mahler himself premiered his Second with the Berliners in 1895 – and here that relationship is brought up to date. These superb recordings, from 2011-20, feature Claudio Abbado, Bernard Haitink, Simon Rattle, Gustavo Dudamel, Andris Nelsons, Daniel Harding, Yannick Nézet-séguin and Kirill Petrenko.
The complete symphonies of another composer form the heart of Giya Kancheli –
The Legacy (Cugate CGD046-049), a five-disc collection of all of the late Georgian’s orchestral works. Originally recorded in the mid-1990s and conducted by Kancheli regular Djansung Kakhidze, this is the perfect introduction to the composer. His trademark melancholy pervades the music here, including his 1989 Liturgy (Mourned by the Wind) and 1985’s Light Sorrow, alongside the seven symphonies.
From Kancheli in Georgia, we head north to Latvia and another five-disc box-set. Imants Kalni˛n – Complete Symphonies & Concertos (SKANI LMIC087) is released to mark the Latvian composer’s 80th birthday and showcases his wideranging work. He’s a fascinating character and worth exploring; a composer, politician and activist, Kalni˛n is also a celebrated rock musician back home. This fascinating set, featuring the Liepa¯ja Symphony Orchestra, focuses on the composer’s orchestral works written between 1963 and 2015.
Finally, piano students will likely have come across many of the pieces featured in Piano Lessons (DG 483 9846). Christoph Eschenbach guides the listener through 16 discs of pieces that students are often taught, but which are rarely recorded. The selection is delightful, taking in works by great composers plus less familiar names such as Kuhlau, Burgmüller and Beyer. Deutsche Grammophon has teamed up with the online sheet music app Tomplay, so subscribing listeners can follow the music with the scores.
Kalniņš is a celebrated rock singer back home in his native Latvia