Arnold Schoenberg - Jacob's Ladder (Kirill Petrenko)

Information

Composer: Arnold Schoenberg

• Jacob's Ladder, Oratorio for solo voices, choruses and orchestra

Wolfgang Koch, baritone

Daniel Behle, tenor

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Berliner Philharmoniker

Kirill Petrenko, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings

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Die Jakobsleiter (Jacob’s Ladder) holds a distinctive place in Arnold Schoenberg’s oeuvre as both a large-scale artistic undertaking and a deeply personal statement of faith. Though Schoenberg worked on the oratorio for decades, he completed only about half of it before his death; a performable version was later prepared by his pupil Winfried Zillig, yet the work conveys a striking sense of wholeness. Centered on the theme of spiritual perfection and transcendence, it reflects one of Schoenberg’s lifelong preoccupations. The title refers to the biblical story of Jacob’s dream in Genesis, a vision traditionally interpreted as a symbol of humanity’s ascent toward the divine.

Kirill Petrenko (b. 1972, Omsk, Siberia) trained in Russia and Austria before building his operatic career with the Meininger Theater and Komische Oper Berlin. He later served as general music director of the Bayerische Staatsoper (2013–2020), while also conducting at leading houses including the Vienna State Opera, Covent Garden, Paris Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, and Bayreuth Festival. Since 2019/20, he has been chief conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philharmoniker, focusing on the Classical-Romantic repertoire and championing overlooked composers such as Josef Suk and Korngold. His acclaimed work includes Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Strauss operas Die Frau ohne Schatten and Elektra.

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