Johanna Senfter - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 9 (Chelsea Gallo)

Information

Composer: Johanna Senfter

• Symphony No. 1 in F Major, Op. 22
• Symphony No. 9 in E-Flat Minor, Op. 117 "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir"

Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

Chelsea Gallo, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Capriccio

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Johanna Senfter (1879–1961) was a German composer and a student of Max Reger, who encouraged her advanced studies in Leipzig, where she graduated with distinction in 1909. In 1910, she received the Arthur Nikisch Prize for best student composition, marking an early recognition of her talent. Coming from a wealthy industrial family, she was financially independent and able to devote her life entirely to composition. Her output includes numerous chamber works and nine symphonies, charting a stylistic evolution from the youthful, expressive intensity of her First Symphony (1914) to the reflective Ninth (1949), shaped by the impact of two world wars.

Chelsea Gallo is an American conductor with international training in Vienna, Prague, and Banská Štiavnica, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Michigan under Kenneth Kiesler. Her artistic development also includes studies in piano and violin, alongside masterclasses with leading figures such as Sir Simon Rattle and Daniel Barenboim. Praised for her dynamic and controlled conducting style, she has been described as a rising talent in the field and currently holds major leadership roles, including Resident Conductor of The Florida Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Orlando Philharmonic. Her career includes engagements with prominent orchestras and opera companies across North America and Europe, reflecting a growing international presence.