Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 / Wagner: Lohengrin Prelude

In Leipzig, past and present have always gone hand in hand, a successful fusion that will soon be encapsulated in a very special four-week-long music festival. Taking place in the city between 18 February and 24 March 2018, the festival will mark both the 275th anniversary of the Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, and the official inauguration as the 21st Gewandhauskapellmeister of the exceptional Latvian conductor Andris Nelsons, one of the most exciting musicians on the world stage today. Deutsche Grammophon is joining in the celebrations by releasing two new albums that not only showcase Nelsons and his new orchestra, but also continue the long-established links between Leipzig and Bruckner.

The first of these albums features Bruckner's Fourth Symphony alongside the Prelude to Wagner's Lohengrin. The pairing reveals the remarkable affinities between the two composers' idioms. Rich in contrast and musical imagery, both works have the power to captivate their listeners, a quality enhanced by Nelsons' highly focused and sensitive interpretations.