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Langgaard breaks into the British classical charts

© Stephan Rabold

Langgaard breaks into the British classical charts

The new recording of Rued Langgaard's Symphony No. 1 with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sakari Oramo has received 6-star reviews, an Editor's Choice title in Gramophone Magazine and a 10th place on the Specialist Classical Chart.

People
09 January 2023

In November 2022, a new recording of Rued Langgaard's impressive youth work Symphony No. 1, Cliffside Pastorals was released. The album is recorded by the world famous Berliner Philharmoniker, the first orchestra to perform the symphony in 1913, conducted by Sakari Oramo, and contributes to Langgaard's international breakthrough.

In the first week of 2023, the album has entered the British, classical top list Specialist Classical Chart, which every week presents the best selling releases in the classical repertoire, based on both physical and digital sale and streaming. The Langgaard symphony has gone straight to number 10 on the charts.

International recommendations

The album has also generated great enthusiasm among international critics. In the beginning of January, the album was selected as Editor's Choice in Gramophone Magazine who wrote: "The Berlin Philharmonic premiered this work back in 1913; under Oramo, they bring immense understanding and instinct to it today".

The New York Times highlighted the album as one of five reommendations in December with the words: "More Langgaard is better than less".

Also BBC Music Magazine wrote words of praise in the 5-star review: "It's a fervently committed reading, ablaze with radiant conviction and surging passions".

An indisputable masterwork

Also the Danish critics are excited about the Berlin Philharmonic turning their attention to the Danish outsider composer. Politiken awarded the album 6 out of 6 stars and named the symphony an "indisputable masterwork" and the album a "justified triumph for Rued Langgaard 70 years after his death".

Kristeligt Dagblad also recently awarded the album 5 out of 6 stars: "It's an exceedingly fine recording, conducted with vigour by Finnish Sakari Oramo", wrote the reviewer.

Stream the album via this link.

Sakari Oramo has also conducted the Gramophone Award winning recording of Langgaard's Symphonies 2 & 6.
  • Rued Langgaard

    Symfoni nr. 1, Klippepastoraler

  • Rued Langgaard, Jacob Gade

    Symphonies 2 & 6

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