Famed German baritone Christian Gerhaher brings his renowned talents to the top-notch Bamberg Symphony, under the expert direction of Daniel Harding, in this live event from Bamberg! Conductor and soloist, both celebrated for their interpretations of the music of Gustav Mahler, relish the opportunity to perform the great Austrian's work: first up is Blumine, a lovely Andante that served as the original second movement of the First Symphony before revisions. Gerhaher then shines in the sublime Rückert-Lieder—a setting of Friedrich Rückert’s poetry that weaves words and music into a rich tapestry of melody, timbre and rhythm—and in "Urlicht" ("Primal Light"), extracted from the beloved Des Knaben Wunderhorn. The evening closes out with a breathtaking performance of Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, a mysterious masterpiece written during a long period of depression that nevertheless brims with a sense of triumph, especially in the moving Allegro that concludes the symphony.

Photo: Daniel Harding © Julian Hargreaves, Christian Gerhaher © Alexander Basta

Christian Gerhaher appears courtesy of Sony Classical.