Album

If any proof is needed to show the extraordinary rapport Gustavo Dudamel has developed with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble he has led as music director since 2006, this box set provides ample evidence. Dudamel is a charismatic and energetic conductor, and the connection he makes with his musicians is almost always electric, yielding compelling results even when the interpretations may not fully convince. His live performances of Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 9, Jean Sibelius' Symphony No. 2, and Carl Nielsen's Symphonies No. 4 and No. 5 impress with their power and coherence, and whether or not they become a listener's favorite performances seems to make little difference, because Dudamel's goal is not to be definitive, but to be exciting and interesting. His "in the moment" approach comes across best in live recordings, and these performances from 2008 to 2010 show much of the same spontaneity of his recordings with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, which he conducted in several acclaimed DG releases. Fans of this maestro will already know of his past successes, so the excellence of this set will come as no surprise. But newcomers to Dudamel will find this package engrossing and satisfying, and return to these performances several times. DG's rich and vibrant reproduction is superb.

© Blair Sanderson, Rovi

CD 1 of 3
Anton Bruckner Composer Symphony No.9 in D-, WAB109 ('Unfinished') Work Recorded 2008 1:05:12 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel Conductor
1	1.Feierlich, misterioso	25:28			$3.99
2	2.Scherzo: Bewegt, lebhaft	10:41			$1.99
3	3.Adagio: Langsam, feierlich	29:03			$3.99
CD 2 of 3
Jean Sibelius Composer Symphony No.2 in D, Op.43 Work Recorded 2010 44:42 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel Conductor
1	1.Allegretto	10:19			$1.99
2	2.Tempo andante ma rubato	14:17			$2.49
3	3.Vivacissimo	6:05			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Allegro moderato	14:01			$2.49
CD 3 of 3
Carl Nielsen Composer Symphony No.5, FS97, Op.50...1.Tempo giusto. Adagio non troppo Work Recorded 2008 17:44 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel Conductor
1	1a.Tempo giusto	8:49			$1.49
2	1b.Adagio non troppo	8:55			$1.49
Carl Nielsen Composer Symphony No.5, FS97, Op.50...2a.Allegro; 2b.Presto Work Recorded 2008 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel Conductor
3	2a.Allegro	5:51			$0.99
Carl Nielsen Composer Symphony No.5, FS97, Op.50...2.Allegro. Presto. Andante un poco tranquillo. Allegro (Tempo 1) Work Recorded 2008 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel Conductor
4	2b.-2d.Presto. Andante un poco tranquillo. Allegro (Tempo 1)	10:10			$1.99
Carl Nielsen Composer Symphony No.4 ('The Inextinguishable'), FS76, Op.29 Work Recorded 2009 35:24 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel Conductor
5	1.Allegro	11:15			$1.99
6	2.Poco allegretto	4:55			$0.99
7	3.Poco adagio quasi andante	9:56			$1.49
8	4.Con anima. Allegro	9:18			$1.49