Beethoven & Shostakovich: Symphonies No. 5 Dresden Philharmonic & Michael Sanderling

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827): Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67:
• 1I. Allegro con brio07:43
• 2II. Andante con moto09:38
• 3III. Allegro05:25
• 4IV. Allegro10:56
• Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975): Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47:
• 5I. Moderato16:28
• 6II. Allegretto05:33
• 7III. Largo13:45
• 8IV. Allegro non troppo12:10
• Total Runtime01:21:38

Info for Beethoven & Shostakovich: Symphonies No. 5

The Dresdner Philharmoniker is one of Germany’s most celebrated orchestras. They have received top laurels for their three albums with the symphonies of Beethoven and Shostakovich: “a delightful combination” (Fono Forum) and “very precise and brilliantly lucid” (hr2 Kultur). Their new album offers a riveting comparison of these two composers’ fifth symphonies. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, composed in 1808, is considered the ne plus ultra of classical music. It was the con-trast between its bleak and dramatic C minor opening and the jubilant C major finale that first gave rise to the familiar metaphors of “through darkness toward light” and “victory over fate”. The same dramatic arch underlies Shostakovich’s Fifth, composed in 1937 in the midst of the Stalinist purges. After Soviet officialdom had condemned his Fourth Symphony, the Fifth was celebrated as the return of the prodigal son. Here, too, the mighty opening movement ultimately leads to sounds of jubilation, this time driven to extremes.

Dresdner Philharmonie
Michael Sanderling, conductor

Dresden Philharmonic
Performing 80 to 90 concerts in Dresden each year, the Dresden Philharmonic is a vital institution in the cultural life of the city. At the same time, the Dresden Philharmonic also acts as an invaluable music ambassador for Saxony and the city of Dresden abroad. The orchestra has undertaken successful international tours of Europe, China, Japan, Israel, South America and the United States. The Dresden Philharmonic can trace its origins to the formal opening of the first concert hall in Dresden on November 29, 1870. That event marked an important transition in the city’s musical life, as concerts for the entertainment of the aristocracy gave way to concerts performed for the enjoyment of the general public. Starting in 1885, the “Gewerbehausorchester”, as it was then known, gave a full season of symphonic concerts in Dresden, earning the ensemble the name “Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra” in 1915. Well known composers including Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorák and Strauss have conducted the orchestra in performances of their own works. Music Directors Paul van Kempen and Carl Schuricht conducted the Dresden Philharmonic starting in 1934. The tenure of van Kempen is particularly noteworthy for establishing the Dresden Philharmonic’s reputation internationally, attracting such renowned guest conductors as Hermann Abendroth, Eduard van Beinum, Fritz Busch, Eugen Jochum, Joseph Keilberth, Erich Kleiber, Hans Knappertsbusch, Franz Konwitschny and Arthur Nikisch. Since 1945 Heinz Bongartz, Kurt Masur, Günther Herbig, Herbert Kegel, Jörg-Peter Weigle and Michel Plasson have served in the same capacity with numerous recordings documenting their collaboration with the orchestra. Marek Janowski served as Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Dresden Philharmonic from 2001 to 2003. In 2003 Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic and the following year was named the orchestra’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Director. Kurt Masur is the Dresden Philharmonic's Laureate Conductor.

Michael Sanderling
After completing his studies, Berlin native Michael Sanderling launched a successful international career as a cellist and for many years performed as a solo cellist with many leading European and US orchestras.

Since the 2006/07 concert season, Michael Sanderling has been the Principal Conductor and, with Andrea Marcon, Artistic Director of the Kammerakademie Potsdam while also serving as Principal Conductor of the Kammerorchester Berlin and the Deutsche Streicherphilharmonie. He made his debut as a conductor of the Kammerorchester Berlin in 2001.

Michael Sanderling regularly appears as guest conductor with the Dresden Philharmonic, the Berlin, Leipzig and Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestras, the Staatskapelle Weimar, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Peking.

His conducting debut with the Staatskapelle Dresden in 2008 resulted in an immediate engagement to conduct at Dresden's Semperoper. He has also guest conducted the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and the Cologne Opera.

Booklet for Beethoven & Shostakovich: Symphonies No. 5