ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PHILIPPE HERREWEGHE
Symphony No.8 D.759 ‘Unfinished’
Mass No. 5 D.678
Hanna-Elisabth Müller soprano
Sophie Harmsen mezzo-soprano
Ilker Arcayürek tenor
Kresimir Stražanac bass
Collegium Vocale Gent choir
Camerata Salzburg orchestra
Philippe Herreweghe conductor
In his brief yet intense life, Schubert demonstrated a remarkable ability to refine the musical forms handed down by his predecessors. Whether in his masses, where he proved himself a worthy successor to masters like Haydn and Mozart, or in his symphonies, where he managed to unleash expressive power while still retaining ties to the formal constraints of the 18th century, Schubert played a crucial role in the Sturm und Drang movement. The Unfinished Symphony D.759 stands as a radiant example from that era for two reasons: it presents a stark contrast between a tumultuous first movement and a serenely clear second movement. Yet, the symphony also came to life in a creative process where Schubert temporarily set the work aside, feeling unable to complete it in one continuous burst – a testament to an unquenchable thirst for perfection!