SWR Symphonieorchester & Vokalensemble / François-Xavier Roth

Pierre Boulez is undoubtedly one of the greatest innovators amongst the composers of the 20th century. In »Figures – Doubles – Prismes«, the experimental character of the music is already apparent in the line-up of musicians: the traditional orchestra is split into three separate groups, between which Boulez lets sparks fly using every trick in the book.

Compared with such experiments, after the interval everything seems pleasantly familiar at first when the orchestra comes together in its familiar formation for Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9. But even the lavish orchestral sound cannot hide what Bruckner inscribed to the future with the three movements of his unfinished final symphony. The captivating journey of this piece goes across many a cliff and through moments of great pain, but finally ends with a celestial vision of salvation.