FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847)

Symphony No. 2 ‘Lobgesang’ (Hymn of Praise)

I. Sinfonia: Maestoso con moto – Allegro

I. Allegretto un poco agitato –

I. Adagio religioso

II. Alles, was Odem hat

II. Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele

III. Recitative: Saget es, die ihr erlöset seid…

IV. Sagt es, die ihr erlöset seid

V. Ich harrete des Herrn

VI. Stricke des Todes hatten uns umfangen…

VII. Die Nacht ist vergangen

VIII. Chorale: Nun danket alle Gott

IX. Drum sing ich mit meinem Liede

X. Ihr Völker! bringet her dem Herrn

Ruth Ziesak (Soprano)

Mojca Erdmann (Soprano)

Christian Elsner (Tenor)

MDR Radio Choir, MDR Symphony Orchestra / Jun Märkl

Hot on the heels of October’s release of Elijah, comes a new recording of Mendelssohn’s opulent Symphony No. 2 ‘Lobgesang’. Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony, and Music Director of the Orchestre National de Lyon, Jun Märkl is one of the most notable conductors of his generation.

Mendelssohn’s immense Symphony No. 2, enjoyed great success following its 1840 première in Leipzig. Using texts from the Lutheran Bible, he created a stirring symphonic cantata in which the whole world unites in a triumphant song to the Heavenly Father. Jun Märkl, whose Naxos recordings have gained high praise, leads an outstanding line-up of artists in this thrilling performance.

Soloists include Ruth Ziesak, Mojca Erdmann and Christian Elsner whose previous Naxos recordings have been highly praised. “Ziesak has a very pleasing light soprano” Classics Today on 8.557900-01 Mozart: Complete Songs.

“Sung in German and with a fine line-up of soloists in Ruth Ziesak, Claudia Mahnke, Christoph Genz and Ralf Lukas, this excellent performance of Mendelssohn’s great Biblical oratorio thrills both in the surges of choral glory and in the moments of tender reflection.” The Daily Telegraph on Elijah

Naxos 8572294