Those present at the Munich Nationaltheater for the first Academy Concert of the 20/21 season, will remember it as a special moment. Subsequent to concert venues being forced to close in March 2020, this was one of the first post-lockdown public performances anywhere, as well as being Vladimir Jurowski’s second concert with the Bayerisches Staatsorchester in his role as designated general music director.

On the programme: Beethoven’s Second Symphony, which was also played during the opening concert of the Musikalische Akademie in 1811. Its conceptual magnitude and tonal vehemence make this symphony – listened to with an attentive ear – far more than simply a precursor of “Eroica”. It was preceded on this occasion by Brett Dean’s Testament, a contemporary orchestral piece which engages with Beethoven’s music, his thoughts and his emotional state. This live concert recording vividly captures the anticipation and excitement felt on the night, as well as the bold endeavour to offer a fresh perspective on a purportedly familiar work.

“In this symphony, Beethoven unleashes the full, untamed potential of the classical orchestra. He experiments with instrumentation, revealing by musical means his internal struggle against fate.” – Vladimir Jurowski

- The first release from the Bayerisches Staatsorchester under the direction of its new chief conductor Vladimir Jurowski

- The exhilarating live recording from the National Theatre in Munich is the second audio release on the Bayerische Staatsoper’s own label: Bayerische Staatsoper Recordings

- Beethoven’s revolutionary Second Symphony in a new interpretation, played with historical appreciation and its finger on the pulse

- Accompanied by a complementary contemporary work by Australian composer Brett Dean, which vividly engages with Beethoven’s life and music

Recorded live at the National Theatre in Munich, 5 & 6 October 2020