Julian Anderson's Symphony No. 2 "Prague Panoramas Premiered in Munich
Jan. 15, 2022
On January 19, The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Semyon Bychkov, presented Julian Anderson's Symphony No. 2 "Prague Panoramas" for orchestra. The 25-minute orchestral work is based on a picture book by the Czech photographer Josef Sudek (1896-1976). His panoramic images of the city of Prague seem almost surreal due to the lack of focus – everything in the picture is sharp. The impressive photographs inspired Anderson to incorporate both the beauty of the city and Sudek’s visual language into his music. The composer notes:
"In 2005 I saw an exhibition of Praha Panoramatická by Josef Sudek. The arresting beauty and painterly composition of his black-and-white panoramas of Prague took my breath away. Looking from one end of the book to the other has a sweep and trajectory to it, like listening to a symphony. The grandeur of the photographs themselves almost suggest orchestral sounds and textures."
Symphony No. 2 is a jointly commissioned work by the BBC, the Munich Philharmonic and The Cleveland Orchestra.
Listen to Julian Anderson's "Toucher" from Sensation (2015-2016):
(Julian Anderson/"Toucher" from Sensation/Richard Uttley, piano)
For more information about Julian Anderson, visit: schott-music.com.
Julian Anderson
Symphony No. 2 "Prague Panoramas" (2019-2021)
for orchestra
4(2.pic,afl; 3.afl; 4.bfl).3(2,3.ca).3(3.bcl).3(3.cbsn)-4.3.3.1-timp.4perc-2hp.pno-str
25'