Semyon Bychkov’s album Mahler Symphony No. 5, featuring the Czech Philharmonic, has been rated the best classical record of 2022 by The Times. In their line-up of ‘The 10 Best Classical Records of 2022’, journalist Jessica Duchen wrote:
“My record of the year is the Czech Philharmonic and its music director Semyon Bychkov’s Mahler Symphony No. 5, for an orchestral sound so sumptuous that you could eat it for Christmas dinner. Continuing their cycle of Mahler symphonies, they achieve a fine balance in this visionary work, a musical universe of dreams and prophecies in which Bychkov matches intelligent pacing with great-hearted warmth, and sonic opulence with textural clarity. The Funeral March shudders and shakes; the sardonic second movement is tumultuous and spacious by turns, and the Scherzo travels an inexorable road from earthy Viennese lilt towards cataclysm. The Adagietto’s tremulous dawning of love melts into perfect bliss at all the right moments; and the finale concludes in roof-busting triumph. Fabulous.”
Mahler Symphony No. 5 is available now on Pentatone.
Semyon Bychkov is managed in association with Enticott Music Management.
Photo credit: Chris Christodoulou
