Six years after its launch, the Michael Gielen Edition now concludes with the release of this tenth instalment. It contains more than seven hours of music composed after 1945, including two of Gielen’s own compositions. There are many first releases of live recordings, including the German premiere recording of Breath – Hammer – Lightning and the world premiere recording of Dome Peak, both by Jorge Lopez. Listeners are duly advised about the extreme dynamic contrasts in Lopez’s output.
Nearly all the works on this album are by composers who enjoyed a long, personal association with Gielen, some of them as close friends. Gielen supported them throughout his career, which ensured that he was able to perform their works with great skill and authority; he always went to great lengths to promote works he believed in. The results of his extraordinary skills can be heard on this final instalment of SWR CLASSIC’s monumental project.