Czech Philharmonic & Semyon Bychkov - Mahler: Symphony No. 3 (2025)

The Czech Philharmonic and its Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov continue their acclaimed Mahler cycle with the composer's Third Symphony, working together with mezzo-soprano Catriona Morison, the Prague Philharmonic Choir and Pueri Gaudentes. In this monumental work, Mahler combines a text from Nietzsche's Also sprach Zarat hust ra with the folk song inspirations of Des Knaben Wunderhorn, culminating in eternal bliss in the closing Adagio. To Bychkov, this longest Mahler symphony offers his " least hysterical" music, and hearing it for the first time as a 10-year-old choirboy kindled his life-long fascination and love for this composer. With this recording, it comes full circle. The Czech Philharmonic - recently awarded Gramophone's Orchestra of the Year Award - is one of the world's orchestral gems, recognised for its rich tradition with the Czech masters as well as European repertoire. Together with their Chief Conductor and Music Director Semyon Bychkov, they have so far recorded for PENTATONE Mahler's First, Second, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (2022-2023), part of the complete Mahler cycle to be released by the label, as well as Smetana's Ma vlast and Dvorak's Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Symphonies (2024). The Orchestra is also featured on the albums Folk Songs (2023) and Czech Songs (2024) recorded by Magdalena Kozena and Sir Simon Rattle, as well as Dvorak Legends & Rhapsodies with Tomas Netopil.

Track List:
CD1
1. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part One: I. Kräftig. Entschieden (35:23)

CD2
1. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part Two: II. Tempo di minuetto. Sehr mässig (10:02)
2. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part Two: III. Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast (17:03)
3. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part Two: IV. Sehr langsam. Misterioso. Durchaus leise (9:46)
4. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part Two: V. Lustig im Tempo und keck im Ausdruck (4:30)
5. Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, Part Two: VI. Langsam. Ruhevoll. Empfunden (25:21)