Thomas Adès - The Exterminating Angel Symphony; Violin Concerto (Thomas Søndergård; Leila Josefowicz)

Information

Composer: Thomas Adès

• The Exterminating Angel Symphony
• Violin Concerto

Leila Josefowicz, violin

Minnesota Orchestra

Thomas Søndergård, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: PentaTone

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The Minnesota Orchestra, under Thomas Søndergård, explores the vivid orchestral world of Thomas Adès in this PENTATONE debut, featuring The Exterminating Angel Symphony (world premiere recording) and the Violin Concerto. The album highlights Adès’ fusion of intellectual rigor and emotional intensity, with radiant and unsettling orchestral textures. Violinist Leila Josefowicz delivers a virtuosic, expressive performance in the Concerto, while the orchestra conveys the volatile energy of the Symphony with gripping precision. Showcasing both cinematic drama and intimate virtuosity, the recording captures the full breadth of Adès’ artistry under Søndergård’s incisive direction.

Leila Josefowicz (b. 1977, Mississauga, Canada) is a renowned American-Canadian violinist celebrated for her advocacy of contemporary music. Trained at the Curtis Institute of Music under Jaime Laredo, Jascha Brodsky, Felix Galimir, and Joseph Gingold, she completed her bachelor’s degree alongside her high school diploma. A favorite of living composers, she has premiered concertos by John Adams, Colin Matthews, Luca Francesconi, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and others, including frequent collaborations with the late Oliver Knussen. Josefowicz performs globally in recitals and with leading orchestras, and has an acclaimed discography on Deutsche Grammophon, Philips/Universal, and Warner Classics. Her recordings have earned Grammy nominations and wide critical acclaim.

Thomas Søndergård (b. 1969) is a Danish conductor and percussionist. He studied percussion at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (1989–1992) before focusing on conducting from age 27. Søndergård is currently Music Director of the Minnesota Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and formerly led the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. He has appeared with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, London Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, and Orchestre National de France, as well as major Scandinavian ensembles. Internationally, he has conducted top orchestras in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Korea.

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