Openings

In addition to his work as chief conductor of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, a collaboration that was awarded an ECHO Klassik in 2015, Karl-Heinz Steffens has been closely associated with the Bamberger Symphoniker for many years. On the latest album of this partnership, well-known overtures from Gluck to Mendelssohn take center stage. Familiar works (such as Beethoven's famous overture "The Ruins of Athens" or Mendelssohn's perennial favorite "A Midsummer Night's Dream") stand alongside less frequently heard pieces (such as the ballet music from Mozart's "Idomeneo" or Cherubini's "Medea" overture. Once again, Steffens and the Bamberger prove themselves to be a dream team: Germany's demonstrably richest orchestra in overtones meets the sonic magician among conductors. When you add the first-class expertise of the award-winning sound engineers of the Swiss high-quality label Tudor, the listener's happiness is complete. Undoubtedly one of the most captivating new albums of the year!