Larcher, Thomas - Symphony No. 2 "Kenotaph" and Die Nacht der Verlorenen - Lintu, Hannu

Austrian composer Thomas Larcher (born 1963) is one of the greatest symphonists of our time. This recording by the Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor Hannu Lintu includes the first recording of his second symphony, Kenotaph, as well as the song cycle Die Nacht der Verlorenen, performed by world-renowned baritone André Schuen. Larcher's symphony was composed in 2015–2016 as a commission from the Austrian National Bank in honor of its 200th anniversary. The premiere was performed by the Vienna Philharmonic under Semyon Bychkov at the Musikverein in Vienna in June 2016. Larcher's work, originally intended as an orchestral concerto, treats tradition as a fertile backdrop, yet still expresses the voice and consciousness of our time. The subtitle of Larcher's work was inspired by the painful awareness of the thousands of refugees who have drowned in the Mediterranean. The work can also be understood as a more general reflection on human tragedy and an exploration of profound existential questions. Larcher ties the material of the work together with strong dramaturgy, intense emotional expression, and a sense of musical narrative. Ingeborg Bachmann's (1926–1973) song cycle Die Nacht der Verlorenen, composed for baritone and large ensemble, includes excerpts from Ingeborg Bachmann's (1926–1973) intense and captivating music, which is in perfect harmony with the mood of the poems.