Special offer. Mahler: Symphony No. 3
Catriona Morison (mezzo), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Pueri gaudentes, Semyon Bychkov
The Czech Philharmonic plays beautifully throughout, the emotions emerging naturally and with palpable tenderness...While some Mahler ia n s may cr ave a more earthy, elemental approach in places,...
Special offer. Mahler: Symphony No. 3
Catriona Morison (mezzo), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic Choir, Pueri gaudentes, Semyon Bychkov
Purchase product
The Czech Philharmonic plays beautifully throughout, the emotions emerging naturally and with palpable tenderness...While some Mahler ia n s may cr ave a more earthy, elemental approach in places,...
About
The Czech Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov continue their acclaimed Mahler cycle with the composer's Third Symphony, working together with mezzo-soprano Catriona Morison, the Prague Philharmonic Choir and Pueri Gaudentes. In this monumental work, Mahler combines a text from Nietzsche's Also sprach Zarat hust ra with the folk song inspirations of Des Knaben Wunderhorn, culminating in eternal bliss in the closing Adagio. To Bychkov, this longest Mahler symphony offers his " least hysterical" music, and hearing it for the first time as a 10-year-old choirboy kindled his life-long fascination and love for this composer. With this recording, it comes full circle. The Czech Philharmonic - recently awarded Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year Award - is one of the world's orchestral gems, recognised for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Together with their Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov, they have so far recorded for PENTATONE Mahler's First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (2022-2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by the label, as well as Smetana's Ma vlast and Dvorak's Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Symphonies (2024). The Orchestra is also featured on the albums Folk Songs (2023) and Czech Songs (2024) recorded by Magdalena Kozena and Sir Simon Rattle, as well as Dvorak Legends & Rhapsodies with Tomas Netopil.
Contents and tracklist
- Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Semyon Bychkov, Jan Perný, Walter Hofbauer, Catriona Morison, Prague Philharmhonic Choir, Pueri gaudentes
Awards and reviews
May 2025
The Czech Philharmonic plays beautifully throughout, the emotions emerging naturally and with palpable tenderness...While some Mahler ia n s may cr ave a more earthy, elemental approach in places, this performance has class written all over it and makes for a deeply edifying encounter with this great symphony.
April 2025
what Bychkov’s account lacks in heft it more than makes up for in poetry…The great finale – Mahler’s most heartfelt adagio – is full of love and reverence. The string-playing glows from within and there is – as there should be – a very real sense of simple sentiments going cosmic.