Explore the published titles from Thomas Søndergård
Prokofiev: Symphonies 1 & 5
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Thomas Søndergård & Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Linn Records. 56 minutes.
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Thomas Søndergård’s sophomore album as Music Director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra marks his first recording devoted to the symphony with the orchestra.
Søndergård conducts an all-Prokofiev programme juxtaposing two contrasting symphonies: Symphony No. 1 in D major ‘Classical’ and Symphony No. 5 in B flat major. Prokofiev delights in paying homage to Haydn in his neo-classical masterpiece; its characterful melodies, freshness and overall joie de vivre have established Symphony No. 1 as enduringly popular. The Scotsman awarded the concert performed live in the 2018/19 season five stars, commenting that ‘the detail in this performance was breathtaking’.
In contrast the Fifth Symphony was forged in the flames of war, and dedicated, Prokofiev said, to ‘the greatness of the human spirit’. Following a concert performance The Herald commented, ‘This was the conductor at his most energetic and impassioned, and it drew a corresponding performance from the orchestra.’
Prokofiev has been a key focus for Søndergård since 2016 and the conductor has announced plans to complete a symphonic cycle over four seasons with his orchestra.
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Der Rosenkavalier Suite
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This recording is the first in a new series with Thomas Søndergård and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
The programme features music by Richard Strauss: the concert suite from Der Rosenkavalier and Ein Heldenleben, a work they have performed together in concert to critical acclaim. The tone poem tells the epic story of an imaginary hero and offers a stirring introduction to the world of the German Romantics. Strauss demands uncompromising virtuosity from both the orchestra and the horn player who is tasked with portraying the bold hero. Following a concert performance of Ein Heldenleben in March 2018 The Scotsman stated: “From the swaggering confidence of Strauss’s bounding heroic theme to the gleefully grotesque carpings of his critics, Søndergård delivered a bold, utterly committed account – this is clearly music that matters to him.”
Closing the recording is the concert suite from Der Rosenkavalier in which Strauss’s colourful and evocative orchestration recalls many favourite moments from his most popular opera. -
Thomas Søndergård & Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Linn Records. 67 minutes.
Lutoslawski & Dutilleux Cello Concertos
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Johannes Moser, Thomas Søndergård, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. Pentatone. 52 minutes.
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This album features cello concertos by Witold Lutosławski and Henri Dutilleux performed by the multiple prize-winning German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, conducted by Thomas Søndergård. These works, premiered in 1970, are two of the biggest gems of the twentieth century, the golden age of the cello. While equally virtuosic and engaging, both pieces showcase different aspects of the musical landscape of the late twentieth century. Lutosławski’s concerto explores the possibilities of chance composition in the form of a duel between the solo cello and a ferocious orchestral accompaniment, in which the individual ultimately prevails. In comparison, soloist and ensemble work together more smoothly in Henri Dutilleux’ “Tout un monde lontain”. In this “cello concerto”, the composer invokes a mystical “world from afar”, inspired by Baudelaire quotes and full of allusions to French musical greats such as Debussy and Messiaen, while simultaneously sounding unmistakably Dutilleuxian.
Sibelius: Finlandia
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Thomas Søndergård, BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Linn Records, 74 minutes
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In the year in which BBC National Orchestra of Wales celebrates ninety years since its inception, Principal Conductor Thomas Søndergård leads the orchestra in a performance of six of Sibelius’ most famous masterpieces.
Continuing the partnership’s shared fascination with the orchestral music of Sibelius – notable readings of four of the seven numbered symphonies (Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7) precede this – this recording shines a spotlight on a further two major strands of the Finnish master’s compositional output: theatre music and the tone poem.
Sibelius established his credentials early on with the tonally adventurous En saga, which brings to mind the excellence of Berlioz’ orchestral writing. A successful foray into the tone world of Debussy followed, resulting in the haunting seascape of The Oceanides, unquestionably Sibelius’s most impressionistic orchestral canvas. The wonderfully descriptive Swan of Tuonela finds Sibelius at his mystical best as he casts the cor anglais as the majestic swan from Finnish mythology. Valse Triste is one of Sibelius’ best known works having achieved worldwide popularity. Originally scored for strings, a 1904 revision saw the addition of flute, clarinet, horns and timpani creating a bewitching orchestral miniature that has been reproduced in countless arrangements.
Sibelius wrote it was ‘pure inspiration’ that led to the composition of the perpetually popular Finlandia. With its world-famous hymn motif, its melodic appeal is inescapable; the dark-hued orchestration is entirely characteristic (especially in those glowering brass interjections at the very start), whilst the patriotic fervour and fierce pride it expresses is genuinely uplifting.
Sibelius: Finlandia represents a fitting finale to this Sibelius series.