Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang'

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The Monteverdi Singers produce, as ever, a clean, well-focused tone and there is much pleasure to be had in Lucy Crowe’s radiant soprano and Michael Spyres’s lyrical tenor, making the most of... — BBC Music Magazine, December 2017, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 8th Sep 2017
Catalogue No: LSO0803
Label: LSO Live
Length: 63 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

October 2017

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Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang'

Work length1:03:57

$15.40

$19.25

$22.35

Michael Spyres, Jurgita Adamonyte, Lucy Crowe
London Symphony Orchestra, Monteverdi Choir
Sir John Eliot Gardiner

I. Sinfonia. Maestoso con moto

Track length11:46

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I. Sinfonia. Allegretto un poco agitato

Track length6:06

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I. Sinfonia. Adagio religioso

Track length6:25

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II. Allegro moderato maestoso "Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn"

Track length4:09

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II. Molto più moderato ma con fuoco "Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele"

Track length2:44

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III. Recitativo "Saget es, die ihr erlöst seid durch den Herrn"

Track length0:52

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III. Allegro moderato "Er zählet unsre Tränen"

Track length2:17

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IV. Chor. A tempo moderato "Sagt es, die ihr erlöst seid"

Track length1:46

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V. Andante "Ich harrete des Herrn"

Track length5:27

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VI. Allegro un poco agitato "Stricke des Todes hatten uns umfangen"

Track length4:04

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VII. Allegro maestoso e molto vivace "Die Nacht ist vergangen"

Track length4:17

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VIII. Choral. Andante con moto "Nun danket alle Gott"

Track length1:32

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VIII. Un poco più animato "Lob, Ehr und Preis sei Gott"

Track length2:55

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IX. Andante sostenuto assai "Drum sing' ich mit meinem Liede ewig dein Lob"

Track length4:15

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X. Schlusschor. Allegro non troppo "Ihr Völker! bringet her dem Herrn"

Track length5:22

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Bringing his acclaimed Mendelssohn cycle to a rousing conclusion, Sir John Eliot Gardiner presents the composer’s symphony-cantata, 'Lobgesang', in his first ever performance of the work. Three world-class soloists join the LSO and his own Monteverdi Choir for this recording for LSO Live. Mendelssohn wrote that the piece "lies very near my heart", and with its stately grandeur and religiosity, plus its sheer magnitude, twice the length of any of his other symphonies, it stands amongst his most impressive works. Posthumously categorised by editors as his second symphony, it is also known as ‘Hymn of Praise’.

In an interview for The Arts Desk, John Eliot said: "It’s a piece I’ve been looking at for years, and I’ve never conducted it. I was a bit sceptical at first, thinking that it was the torso of a symphony with a cantata bolted on. But it isn’t. It’s a delight. It has a lot of the inventiveness and sheer melodic flow of the young Mendelssohn and it’s perfectly calibrated and constructed."

Presented as a Pure Audio Blu-ray and SACD Hybrid package - which includes master quality audio and downloadable content - this is the perfect end to Gardiner's exploration of Mendelssohn. Summing up his feelings at the end of the project, he said: "My admiration for Mendelssohn has gone up enormously, as a result of really digging deep into these symphonies...it’s so rewarding with this group of players, they’re willing to go to the nth degree, in terms of detail of phrasing and articulation, and that’s a joy."

Concert reviews:

"Gardiner brought his LSO Mendelssohn series to a rousing conclusion...performed with enormous conviction and swagger, delivering old certainties of sacred and secular pride in a way to make your eyes prick." Classical Source

"His [Michael Spyres's] German diction was furthermore crystal clear. Soprano Lucy Crowe gleamed in the middle passage...while mezzo Jurgita Adamonyté’s voice effused a luminous quality." Bachtrack

Reviews

December 2017

The Monteverdi Singers produce, as ever, a clean, well-focused tone and there is much pleasure to be had in Lucy Crowe’s radiant soprano and Michael Spyres’s lyrical tenor, making the most of the arias that Mendelssohn added after the first performance.

January/February 2018

a passionate celebration of holy writ … there is nothing hurried or lacking in reverence about his reading, which must now be the recording of choice.

October 2017

Aided by fine soloists and, above all, Gardiner’s excellent Monteverdi Choir, this performance has a vitality that compels attention...But as soon as we get to the choral section, Gardiner’s performance catches alight like no other. The 44-strong Monteverdi Choir launch into ‘Die Nacht ist vergangen’ with real joy as day arrives...The final choral fugue is genuinely uplifting, a splendid way to conclude Gardiner’s splendid cycle.

Record Review 2nd September 2017

fine soloists … I like the discipline of the Monteverdi Choir and the comparatively lean sound of the LSO

Videos

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Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 52 'Lobgesang'

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