Mahler: Symphony No. 2 Elena Mosuc

• Gustav Mahler (1860-1911): Symphony No. 2
• 1 I. Allegro maestoso 21:50
• 2 II. Andante moderato 10:07
• 3 III. In ruhig fliessender Bewegung 09:23
• 4 IV. Urlicht: Sehr feierlich, aber schlicht 04:39
• 5 V. Finale: Im Tempo des Scherzos 31:44
• Symphony No. 10: I. Adagio
• 6 Symphony No. 10: Adagio 22:13
• Total Runtime 01:39:56

Info zu Mahler: Symphony No. 2

Mahler’s extraordinary Second Symphony deals with the epic themes of life, death, faith, and love. He employs a vast orchestra in a search for salvation through spirituality, including a battery of brass, two soloists, and choir. The theme of death also pervades his unfinished Tenth, yet here one finds a sense of peace and a heartfelt expression of human love.

“Singing without scores, the London Symphony Chorus are on unambiguous great form. Once Gergiev has the bit between his teeth, the tension hardly lets up…” (Gramophone)

"Valery Gergiev's Mahler cycle with the London Symphony Orchestra seems now to have found its identity and this thrilling account of the 'Resurrection' Symphony, heard on the second of two consecutive evening performances, bore many of the hallmarks that have distinguished the series so far: dramatic, driven and occasionally impatient. With the LSO on splendid form, producing a brilliant, bright sound that pushed the Barbican's close acoustic to its limits, Gergiev presided over a drama of despair and redemption of the greatest intensity…The LSO chorus was in glorious voice and egged on more and more by Gergiev they joined with the orchestra to produce an enormous, brilliant and overwhelming sound. The pure, visceral thrill of the final bars, greeted with an enthusiastic ovation from the packed audience, crowned a very fine performance of this great work." (MusicalCriticsm.com)

"Faced with the London Symphony Orchestra's concentrated glare and attack, I considered cowering under my seat" (The Times)

Elena Mosuc, soprano
Zlata Bulycheva, mezzo-soprano
London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Chorus
Valery Gergiev, conductor

Elena Mosuc
Romanian-swiss soprano Elena Mosuc, born in Iasi (Romania), was educated at the 'George Enescu' – Conservatory in Iasi and before completing her studies, she won several international competitions (a.o. the international music competition organised by the ARD German Television Channel I in Munich). She received many prestigious prizes (a.o. Siola d’ Oro, Premio Zenatello di Verona); in 2005 the Romanian president bestowed upon her the title Officer of the Arts, one of the highest honour which can be awarded to a musician in Romania. In 2009, she made her doctor’s degree in music science with The Theme of Madness in the Italian opera of the first half of the 19th century. In Romania she has recently been appointed Woman of the year 2009. In 2010, she became honorary citizen of her native city.

Since the beginning of her career, Elena Mosuc was connected closely to the Zurich Opera House, and she appeared there in various roles, among others as the Queen of the Night ( in whole world more than 250 times ), Konstanze, Donna Anna, Lucia di Lammermoor, Linda di Chamounix, Elvira, Gilda, Violetta, Luisa Miller, Sophie, Zerbinetta, Aminta/Timidia (The silent woman), Musetta, Micaëla, Marguerite, Liù, Medora (Il Corsaro), Nedda, Mrs. Alice Ford, Stella, Olympia, Antonia and Giulietta etc.

Guest star appearances take her continuously to all the important opera houses and festivals in Europe (a.o. to Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Paris, London, Milan, Rome, Venice, Verona, Brussels, Amsterdam) as well as to the USA (a.o. Metropolitan Operahouse New-York, Dallas) and Japan and China. She has worked with many of the greatest conductors (a.o. Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Fabio Luisi, Lorin Maazel, Gustavo Dudamel, Daniel Harding) and stage directors (a.o. Franco Zeffirelli, Liliana Cavani, Ruth Berghaus, Sven-Eric Bechtolf, Stefan Herheim, Martin Kusej). Elena Mosuc also continues to give frequent concerts and to appear in opera soirees in her native country. During the last years, Elena Mosuc has established her reputation as one of the world’s most versatile and expressive sopranos.

Highlights of recent seasons include her highly acclaimed role debuts as Mimì ( La Bohème ) in Zürich and Bucharest, Luisa Miller, Norma and Maria Stuarda in Zurich and at the State Opera Berlin and Norma in Lyon and at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris. Thereupon she appeared with sensational success in La Traviata, Rigoletto, Luisa Miller, Carmen and Lucia di Lammermoor at the Teatro alla Scala, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Traviata, Riigoletto at the Bavarian State Opera, La Traviata in the Verona Arena, at the Opera Nationala Iasi in Romania and Liceu di Barcelona, as Lucia and Donna Anna at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Lucia at the Theatre du Capitole of Toulouse, Palermo and at the Teatro Regio di Torino, as Gilda at the Teatro Regio di Parma, Elvira in I Puritani, Gilda and Violetta at the Vienna State Opera, Gilda and Elvira at the Palacio Euskalduna in Bilbao, as Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos) in Zurich, at the Salzburg Festival and in Bastille ( Paris ), in all principal female roles in Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the State Opera of Hamburg and in Zurich, and lately as Lucrezia Borgia at the Théâtre Royale de la Monnaie in Brussels, Semiramide in Lyon and Paris, Magda ( La Rondine ) in München and Norma at the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland.

Among her next engagements it must be noticed Lucrezia Borgia in Bilbao, La Traviata in Athen, Lucia di Lammermoor at the Opera festival in Galati ( Romania ), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Menorca, Anna Bolena in Teatro Sao Carlos in Lisbon, Maria Stuarda and Anna Bolena in Genova and the debut as Desdemona in Otello with the Tokyo Philharmonie.

In addition to her opera performances, she also likes to lend her talent to other projects that spark her interest. In recent years she discovered among others Fado and Musical and has given various concerts ( OPERFADO with the greatest soloist Fado Gonçalo Salgueiro ). She also feels passionate about film music, which led to her involvement in the CD L'amore è poesia with the wonderful music of Flavio Motalla especially composed for her voice.

Her discography includes solo albums A Portrait 3 CD box ( Au jardin de mon Coeur, Mozart Portrait, Notre amour ) and Donizetti Heroines by Sony Classical, Stabat Mater by Gualberto Brunetti ( World Premier Recording ), With Compliments ( Händel arias with the Chamber Orchestra Zürich ), Schön ist die Welt by Franz Léhar (the recording received the preis of the german recordings critic), the 2° Mahler Sinfonie conducted by Valéry Gergiev, but also numerous opera productions on DVD (a.o. La Bohème, Rigoletto, Ariadne auf Naxos and The magic Flute). Interesting was her interpretation in the film The Genius of Mozart realized by BBC and her participation already twice at the FIFA Gala transmitted live in the whole world. Forthcoming projects include the recording of a Verdi recital, a song cycle with orchestra Tragédie d'amour by Swiss composer Emile Jacques-Dalcroze and the complete recording of the opera La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini.

Flavio Motalla
Born in Zurich, Switzerland, composer Flavio Motalla studied piano and composition with Boris Mersson and Gunhard Mattes. He later graduated from the University of Southern California’s advanced studies program in «Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television», where he studied among others under tutorship of Elmer Bernstein, David Raksin and Leonard Rosenman.

His highly emotional and compelling compositions are rooted in the late romantic era, and are often compared to the works of Ravel, Debussy and Rachmaninoff, as well as film composers such as Ennio Morricone and John Barry. However, with his love and passion for music in all its diversity, he never shies away of exploring new musical frontiers, incorporating more contemporary style elements from today’s rock/pop/electronica music, or engaging himself in projects off the beaten path.

Since his move to Los Angeles he has been working as a composer, arranger and orchestrator on dozens of films of any genre, style and budget. He has contributed to a multitude of projects ranging from smaller independent films (e.g. Naomi, Wonder Boys, The Shipping News) to big Hollywood productions (e.g. Spider-Man 3, Drag Me To Hell, Swordfish), and has collaborated with many top industry professionals - most prominently Christopher Young and British film composer John Scott.

Aside from his work in film, he also continues to write concert music. Up to now, his classical compositions include pieces for chamber and symphony orchestra, two string concertos, as well as four vocalises for soprano and orchestra. He has been commissioned and written works for renowned soloists such as flutist Myriam-Hidber Dickinson, violist Karen Elaine, and most notably Romanian soprano Elena Mosuc.

His works have been performed internationally, among others by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (London), the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Bucharest (Romania), the Vidin State Philharmonic Orchestra (Bulgaria), the San Francisco Symphony, and the Hollywood Symphony Orchestra (USA).

Booklet für Mahler: Symphony No. 2