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Rave Reviews for HK Gruber’s Recording of Kurt Weill’s Symphonies

Apr. 16, 2023

HK Gruber’s long-awaited disc on the BIS label, in partnership with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra, has proven a ready magnet for critical praise. Bringing together recordings of both of Kurt Weill’s symphonies (Symphonie in einem Satz [No.1] and Fantaisie Symphonique [No.2]), the release joins in the efflorescence of recent enthusiasm especially for the latter work, being the third commercial recording of it to appear in less than a year. The combination of the symphonies with excerpts from Weill’s allegorically rich Der Silbersee makes for “a disc that’s at once musically and morally compelling, not to mention brilliantly played and flawlessly engineered.” (Jonathan Blumhofer, Artsfuse). Eckhard Weber writes in concerti that Gruber “captivates with theatrical power, bite and ironic sting” in the Silbersee excerpts and praises the SCO for its “contoured, stylistically confident, and on point interpretations.” Westdeutscher Rundfunk concludes its feature on the recording by stating simply that Gruber “confirms himself as one of the greatest of Weill interpreters” with this “outstanding recording” that “offers the opportunity to get to know Weill from a different perspective.”


(Kurt Weill/ Symphony No. 1 "Berlin"/Swedish Chamber Orchestra/HK Gruber, conductor)

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