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Hildur Guðnadóttir erweckt auf This Will Be Us zwei Jahrzehnte ihres musikalischen Schaffens zu neuem Orchesterleben

Ein lang gehegter Orchestertraum wird Wirklichkeit &ndash; jetzt bei Deutsche Grammophon erh&auml;ltlich
Die Oscar-pr&auml;mierte Komponistin und Cellistin Hildur Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir ver&ouml;ffentlicht heute, am 23. Oktober 2026, ihr neues Deutsche-Grammophon-Album This Will Be Us. Zwanzig Jahre nach ihrem Deb&uuml;talbum Mount A vereint die Aufnahme Orchesterfassungen von acht St&uuml;cken aus ihren fr&uuml;hen Soloalben mit zwei neuen Kompositionen. Ebenfalls ab sofort zu sehen ist das Video zu &bdquo;The Song That Never Was&ldquo;, einem der beiden neuen Werke des Albums.
Auf This Will Be Us ist Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir als Solocellistin gemeinsam mit dem Deutschen Symphonie-Orchester Berlin unter der Leitung von Robert Ames zu h&ouml;ren. Dabei kehrt sie zur intimen musikalischen Welt von Mount A (2006), Without Sinking (2009) und Saman (2014) zur&uuml;ck und erschlie&szlig;t diese mit den klanglichen M&ouml;glichkeiten eines gro&szlig;en Orchesters neu. Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir produzierte das Album auch selbst; Aufnahme, Mix und Mastering &uuml;bernahm ihr langj&auml;hriger Weggef&auml;hrte Francesco Donadello.
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&bdquo;The Song That Never Was&ldquo; ist neben &bdquo;Blind Sarabande&ldquo; eine von zwei neuen Kompositionen auf dem Album. Dar&uuml;ber hinaus enth&auml;lt es neu gestaltete Fassungen von &bdquo;In Gray&ldquo;, &bdquo;Ascent&ldquo;, &bdquo;Erupting Light&ldquo;, &bdquo;Opaque&ldquo;, &bdquo;Overcast&ldquo;, &bdquo;Unveiled&ldquo;, &bdquo;B&aelig;r&ldquo; und &bdquo;Birting&ldquo;.
F&uuml;r Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir erf&uuml;llt sich mit diesem Projekt ein Wunsch, der bis zu ihren fr&uuml;hesten Aufnahmen zur&uuml;ckreicht. &bdquo;Als ich versuchte, ganz allein ein Streichorchester zu sein, tr&auml;umte ich immer davon, mehr Menschen zu haben, die mit mir spielen&ldquo;, sagt sie. &bdquo;Ich beschloss, meinem j&uuml;ngeren Ich zum Jubil&auml;um das Geschenk zu machen, diese Musik von einem Orchester gespielt zu h&ouml;ren.&ldquo;
Das Album enth&auml;lt Begleittexte von Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir und der Filmemacherin Sarah Polley. Das Cover zeigt &Oacute;lafur El&iacute;assons Werk The purple sun for Hildur (2026). Bekannt f&uuml;r ihre preisgekr&ouml;nten Filmmusiken zu Joker und Chernobyl, kehrt Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir hier zu jener zutiefst pers&ouml;nlichen Musik zur&uuml;ck, mit der sie ihre unverwechselbare Stimme als Solok&uuml;nstlerin entwickelte.
Die Ver&ouml;ffentlichung wird mit besonderen Auff&uuml;hrungen von This Will Be Us am 25. Oktober in der Berliner Philharmonie und am 5. Februar 2027 im De Singel in Antwerpen gefeiert; weitere Termine sollen folgen. Der Film UNDER, in dessen Mittelpunkt Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir steht und der bereits auf ARTE.tv verf&uuml;gbar ist, feiert morgen, am 24. Oktober, seine Premiere auf STAGE+ und nimmt das Publikum mit auf eine filmische und musikalische Reise rund um die isl&auml;ndische Komponistin.
This Will Be Us &ndash; Live-Termine: <a href="https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/konzerte/kalender/57317/">25. Oktober &ndash; Berliner Philharmonie, Berlin</a> <a href="https://desingel.be/en/programme/music/hildur-guonadottir-bryggen-this-will-be-us">5. Februar 2027 &ndash; De Singel, Antwerpen</a>
UNDER &ndash; Premierentermine: <a href="https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/132656-000-A/hildur-gu-nadottir-unterwassermusik/">Jetzt verf&uuml;gbar &ndash; ARTE.tv</a> <a href="https://www.stage-plus.com/de/video/live_concert_9HKNCPA3DTN66PBIEHFJ2D1H74">24. Oktober &ndash; STAGE+</a>
Eine filmische und musikalische Reise rund um die Oscar-pr&auml;mierte isl&auml;ndische Komponistin Hildur Gu&eth;nad&oacute;ttir.
Oktober 2026

A major milestone: Andris Nelsons and the Wiener Philharmoniker present their complete Mahler recording, Mahler: The Symphonies   

The recording of all ten symphonies is released digitally and as a 12-CD box set on 23 October 2026
Every performance was recorded live between 2018 and 2026
Featuring leading soloists and three choral ensembles in Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 8
&ldquo;Gustav Mahler&rsquo;s music is part of the Wiener Philharmoniker&rsquo;s DNA.&rdquo;
- Prof. Daniel Froschauer, Chairman of the Wiener Philharmoniker. 
Deutsche Grammophon releases the 12-CD box set Mahler: The Symphonies on 23 October 2026, featuring the Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by Andris Nelsons. The edition brings together all ten of Gustav Mahler&rsquo;s symphonies; every performance was recorded live between 2018 and 2026. With this release, the eight-year performance and recording project shared by orchestra and conductor reaches its triumphant conclusion. The combination of Nelsons&rsquo; deeply committed approach to this repertoire and the Wiener Philharmoniker&rsquo;s fabled sound and history of interpreting Mahler&rsquo;s music promises to make this one of the most significant Mahler projects of our time.&nbsp;
The cycle draws directly on the Wiener Philharmoniker&rsquo;s close, longstanding artistic partnership with Gustav Mahler, the Austrian composer and former director of the Vienna Court Opera. The orchestra gave the world premieres of some of his works and still performs from historical musical materials dating from his time. Nelsons and the orchestra have worked closely together for 15 years and have already recorded a <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/de/katalog/produkte/beethoven-the-symphonies-nelsons-9271">Beethoven cycle</a> for Deutsche Grammophon.
The recordings feature a distinguished ensemble of soloists: sopranos Lucy Crowe, Ying Fang, Christiane Karg, Sarah Wegener and Jacquelyn Wagner; mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Gubanova; altos Wiebke Lehmkuhl and Tamara Mumford; tenor Benjamin Bruns; baritone Michael Nagy; and bass Tareq Nazmi. The choral parts in Symphonies Nos. 2, 3 and 8 are shared by the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Singverein der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien and Wiener S&auml;ngerknaben.
&ldquo;We are thrilled to release our complete symphonic cycle of Mahler&rsquo;s music with Deutsche Grammophon. The Vienna Philharmonic has a unique relationship with Mahler, and the orchestra&rsquo;s famous sound encompasses the full palette of colours he uses to express his doubt and anxiety about the world, but also his joy and profound love of humanity. Mahler&rsquo;s music is truly universal, yet at the same time it can form an intensely intimate and personal connection with each listener. There is something almost mystical in that encounter: a connection that reaches across time and place and speaks directly to the soul. The tensions and contrasts at the heart of Mahler&rsquo;s musical imagination produce some of the most heartbreaking, but also the most euphoric moments ever composed. It is a great privilege to explore these extraordinary heights and depths with the remarkable musicians of the Vienna Philharmonic.&rdquo; &ndash; Andris Nelsons.
The box set was preceded by Symphony No. 5, recorded at the 2022 Salzburg Festival and released digitally and as a 2-LP edition on 1 May 2026, which received widespread critical acclaim. The 11 May 2026 performance of the Eighth was streamed live on STAGE+ and completed an audiovisual Mahler cycle filmed in Vienna and Salzburg. The concerts in the audiovisual cycle remain available to stream on <a href="https://www.stage-plus.com/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSOJ4DHL?utm_source=share">STAGE+</a>.
October 2026

Joe Hisaishi: The Boy and the Heron, Symphonic Suite

When a film that has touched generations of audiences finds its way from the cinema to the concert platform, something rare takes shape: the chance to hear a beloved score anew. With his Symphonic Suite for&nbsp;The Boy and the Heron, Joe Hisaishi reshapes the film score for which he received wide recognition in 2023 into a self-contained symphonic work for piano and orchestra. At his side is the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, with which the Japanese composer shares one of the defining partnerships of his international career.
Deutsche Grammophon releases the recording on 6 November 2026, inviting both long-standing connoisseurs of the Ghibli universe and curious newcomers to discover Hisaishi's musical language between screen and concert hall. Both on the podium and at the piano, the composer presents his music here in its most fully realised concert form.
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<h2>From cinema to concert hall: how the suite came about</h2>
The Boy and the Heron, known in Japanese by its original title&nbsp;Kimitachi wa Dō Ikiru ka&nbsp;('How Do You Live?'), was released in 2023 as Hayao Miyazaki's first feature film in ten years and marked a high point in the joint work of director and composer. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the Golden Globe and the BAFTA Award, while critics regarded Hisaishi's score as one of his most poetic works: clear, restrained and of great emotional depth.
For the concert version, Hisaishi transferred this film music into a symphonic form that follows its own dramatic logic. In place of individual scene miniatures, a continuous arc emerges in which the piano as solo instrument and the colours of a large orchestra enter into dialogue with one another.
The suite already passed its baptism of fire in the concert hall: in summer 2025 Hisaishi presented the work to Japanese audiences together with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and shortly afterwards its European premiere followed at the BBC Proms in London's Royal Albert Hall. This release now makes that concert experience permanently available.
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<h2>Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra</h2>
Joe Hisaishi ranks among the most influential composers for film and classical music worldwide. He rose to fame through his decades-long collaboration with Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, on films such as&nbsp;My Neighbor Totoro,&nbsp;Princess Mononoke&nbsp;and&nbsp;Spirited Away. At the same time, as a conductor, pianist and composer of an extensive contemporary catalogue, he has established a firm place in concert life. Since 2023, Hisaishi has been an exclusive artist with Deutsche Grammophon, which has previously released, among others, the Ghibli soundtrack collection&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/a-symphonic-celebration-joe-hisaishi-12971">A Symphonic Celebration</a>, the acclaimed album&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/joe-hisaishi-in-vienna-13386">Joe Hisaishi in Vienna</a>&nbsp;and the celebrated performances captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/joe-hisaishi-conducts-14096">Joe Hisaishi Conducts</a>.
As Composer-in-Association of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hisaishi enjoys a particularly close artistic relationship with the ensemble, one that already underpinned the acclaimed album&nbsp;A Symphonic Celebration&nbsp;and found its echo in sold-out concerts from London and Paris to Tokyo. In the Symphonic Suite for&nbsp;The Boy and the Heron, this experience and a deepened mutual trust come together in an interpretation through which Hisaishi, as conductor and pianist, conveys his own musical language at first hand.
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<h2>Formats and collector's editions of The Boy and the Heron soundtrack</h2>
For collectors, the work appears as a coloured vinyl edition that combines the sonic warmth of the analogue format with the design pedigree of the Yellow Label. This places the title alongside the series of high-quality Hisaishi releases on Deutsche Grammophon and offers lovers of physical formats an object of lasting value.
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<h2>Experience the magic of Joe Hisaishi's The Boy and the Heron Symphonic Suite at home!</h2>
The Symphonic Suite is not only to be enjoyed on record: in autumn 2026, Joe Hisaishi returns to Europe with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for his World Dream Tour, which also takes in selected cities in Germany and Switzerland. As conductor and piano soloist, he presents the European premiere of his newly composed&nbsp;Concerto for Orchestra&nbsp;alongside the suite for&nbsp;The Boy and the Heron. Anyone who first discovers the music at home can then experience it in its full impact in the concert hall soon afterwards.
You can obtain the vinyl edition of the Symphonic Suite for&nbsp;The Boy and the Heron&nbsp;in the DG Store, and you can find further recordings and current dates for the composer on his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/joe-hisaishi">artist page at Deutsche Grammophon</a>.
Discover it now and follow the journey from cinema to concert hall!

Continuum II: Víkingur Ólafsson's Intimate Bach Diary

For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/vikingur-olafsson">V&iacute;kingur &Oacute;lafsson</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/composers/johann-sebastian-bach">Johann Sebastian Bach</a>&nbsp;is not a closed chapter of music history but a daily presence. For more than three decades the Icelandic pianist has sat down at the instrument day after day to play a little Bach, a habit he describes as the one constant fixed point of his life. From this continuing dialogue now grows&nbsp;Continuum II, the second chapter of a project whose very title carries its programme within it: in German the word&nbsp;Bach&nbsp;means a flowing stream, and it is precisely as such an unbroken current that &Oacute;lafsson understands the music of the Leipzig Thomaskantor, as an invisible thread linking eras, people and experiences.
The new album is released on 6 November 2026 by Deutsche Grammophon and follows directly on from the first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/continuum-vkingur-olafsson-13630">Continuum</a>&nbsp;of October 2024. Unlike its predecessor, it was created entirely in a single, very personal place: The Nutshell, the pianist's new home studio in Iceland. The character of this retreat runs through the entire recording, which &Oacute;lafsson himself regards as his first true "album domesticum", an album of domestic, quiet, inward-looking music in which Bach appears at his most intimate and personal.
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<h2>The Album: Chorales, Transcriptions and the Art of the Miniature on Continuum II</h2>
At the heart of&nbsp;Continuum II&nbsp;are six chorales that &Oacute;lafsson interprets on the piano, among them "Wie sch&ouml;n leuchtet der Morgenstern", BWV 436, "Welt, ade!", BWV 27/VI, and "Es ist genug", BWV 60/V. For the pianist, these originally vocal and liturgical settings reveal a new sonic form on the piano, especially in the fragile, almost whispering timbre of the upright piano. This sacred core is complemented by the early chorale prelude "Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott", which the producer Christopher Tarnow suggested for the recording. Bach wrote this piece in his youth, and its unpredictable harmonic development and lamenting character feel like an anticipation of the expressive world of the Romantic Lied.
A central work in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/vikingur-olafsson/discography">programme</a>&nbsp;is &Oacute;lafsson's own arrangement of the famous Air from the Orchestral Suite No. 3, widely known as "Air on the G String". The pianist recorded it in two versions, on the concert grand and on the upright, and dedicated his arrangement to the composer Gy&ouml;rgy Kurt&aacute;g on his 100th birthday. Added to these are the Largo from the Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 in F minor, an expanded, chamber-music reading of the Adagio from the Violin Sonata No. 5 in F minor scored for piano, string quartet and double bass, recorded with the Siggi String Quartet and double bassist Xun Yang, as well as the Larghetto from the Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D major, BWV 972, which Bach himself had arranged after a model by Antonio Vivaldi. The anthology is rounded off by six little preludes that Bach once wrote as exercise pieces for his pupils and his own children: miniatures whose outward brevity conceals an astonishing musical depth.
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<h2>The Performer: V&iacute;kingur &Oacute;lafsson</h2>
V&iacute;kingur &Oacute;lafsson, born on 14 February 1984 in Reykjav&iacute;k, is one of the most sought-after pianists of our time. His world tour with Bach's&nbsp;Goldberg Variations, which he performed on countless stages, culminated in a widely acclaimed recording that earned him his first GRAMMY Award&reg;. His recordings have been streamed more than one billion times worldwide, around half of them on Bach repertoire, underlining his special standing as an interpreter of this music.
At Deutsche Grammophon, &Oacute;lafsson has shaped an unmistakable profile over the years, from his engagement with Philip Glass through Debussy and Rameau, Mozart and his contemporaries, to the introspective albums&nbsp;From Afar, the&nbsp;Goldberg Variations&nbsp;and most recently&nbsp;Opus 109.&nbsp;Continuum II&nbsp;fits into this body of work as a logical continuation while deepening the pianist's very own, diary-like approach to Bach.
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<h2>Formats and Availability</h2>
Continuum II&nbsp;is released on 6 November 2026 by Deutsche Grammophon in digital form, on CD and on vinyl. As a foretaste of the album, two singles are already available to stream: &Oacute;lafsson's grand-piano version of the "Air on the G String" (since 17 July 2026) and the Larghetto from the Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D major, BWV 972 (since 14 August 2026).
Collectors and listeners who wish to experience the complete arc of this intimate Bach portrait can therefore look forward to an album that turns the silence of the studio into living, resonant sound.
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<h2>Experience the Continuation, Continuum II, at Last!</h2>
Discover&nbsp;Continuum II&nbsp;now at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue">Deutsche Grammophon</a>&nbsp;and save the date for 6 November 2026. You will find all of the pianist's recordings and physical editions in the DG Store, with further background on his artist page.
&Oacute;lafsson's celebrated&nbsp;Goldberg Variations&nbsp;with the light installation by Olafur Eliasson are also available as a stream on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stage-plus.com/video/live_concert_9HKNCPA3DTN66PBIEHFJ2CPH6C">STAGE+</a>!

Stravinsky: Pulcinella with Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra, now in the Original Source Series

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Some recordings hold their place as a reference for decades, and<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/claudio-abbado-the-complete-recordings-on-dg-decca-12881">&nbsp;Claudio Abbado's</a>&nbsp;account of<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/composers/igor-strawinsky">&nbsp;Igor Stravinsky's</a>&nbsp;Pulcinella is unquestionably one of them. Together with the London Symphony Orchestra and the vocal soloists Teresa Berganza, Ryland Davies and John Shirley-Quirk, Abbado set down an interpretation in 1978 that unites wit, rhythmic precision and tonal transparency into a strikingly vivid reading of this neoclassical ballet. On 13 November 2026 the recording joins Deutsche Grammophon's<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/projects/the-original-source">&nbsp;Original Source series</a>, the Yellow Label's audiophile vinyl edition.
For collectors and curious newcomers alike, this is a rare opportunity: a catalogue classic returns, cut directly from the original analogue tape and pressed on 180g virgin vinyl. Anyone who has known Pulcinella only from digital sources will discover a sound of remarkable openness here, one that makes the score's chamber-music delicacy as audible as its playful energy.
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<h2>A key work of modernism: Stravinsky's Pulcinella</h2>
Pulcinella marks one of the most consequential turning points in Igor Stravinsky's output. The ballet was first performed on 15 May 1920 at the Paris Op&eacute;ra, danced by the Ballets Russes under the aegis of Sergei Diaghilev, with choreography by L&eacute;onide Massine and designs by Pablo Picasso. Ernest Ansermet conducted. With this work Stravinsky took the step into neoclassicism, the aesthetic stance that would shape much of his subsequent oeuvre.
What makes the score special is its source material: Stravinsky drew on early eighteenth-century compositions long attributed to Giovanni Battista Pergolesi. Later scholarship has shown that a substantial portion of these models came from other composers of the period. Stravinsky shaped them into something entirely his own, threading Baroque melody through with unmistakably modern harmonies, rhythms and instrumentation.
The result is a ballet in twenty-one sections, with arias for soprano, tenor and bass, in which voice and orchestra merge into a whole that is at once light-hearted and refined. These vocal passages set the complete ballet score clearly apart from the purely orchestral suite that later became more widely known, and they bring the work's theatrical origins to the fore.
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<h2>Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra</h2>
The partnership between Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra is among the most fruitful chapters in the discography of both. The 1970s produced a whole series of Stravinsky recordings that remain benchmarks to this day. Abbado's Pulcinella was recorded in March and May 1978 at Henry Wood Hall in London and first appeared on record in 1979. This reading is characterised by clear articulation, a precise and never overstated command of the intricate rhythms, and the fine interplay between orchestra and the three vocal soloists.
Teresa Berganza, Ryland Davies and John Shirley-Quirk lend the vocal numbers warmth and personality without departing from the score's chamber-music character. Within the Original Source series, this release takes its place in Abbado's celebrated Stravinsky cycle with the LSO, which already includes Le Sacre du printemps and Petrushka in audiophile vinyl editions. Listeners who value this world will find Pulcinella a welcome addition.
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<h2>Original Source: pure analogue sound</h2>
The Original Source series, launched in 2023 to mark the label's 125th anniversary, pursues a single consistent aim: to bring legendary 1970s recordings to vinyl as faithfully as possible. At the Emil Berliner Studios in Berlin, the original multitrack tapes are used and then remixed and cut in a fully analogue process, with no detour via tape copies and no digital intermediate steps. A passive mixing console was developed specially for the task, one that adds no further noise to the signal.
The audible result is greater clarity, finer detail and a more natural dynamic range, from the most delicate pianissimo to the powerful tutti passages. Each edition appears on 180g virgin vinyl, produced at Optimal, as a limited and numbered deluxe edition in a fold-out gatefold sleeve. The cover art and accompanying texts follow the original, supplemented by additional photographs and facsimiles of the recording documentation. For audiophile classical music lovers, this is a format that places the deliberate, focused listening experience at its heart.
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<h2>Format and availability: now on vinyl</h2>
Stravinsky: Pulcinella with Claudio Abbado and the London Symphony Orchestra is released on 13 November 2026 as an Original Source vinyl in the official DG Store. As a limited, numbered edition, it is especially suited to collectors who value the highest sound quality and premium presentation. Pre-ordering is recommended for anyone interested, since editions in this series have a track record of selling out quickly.
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<h2>Order and enjoy Claudio Abbado's Original Source Vinyl now!</h2>
Secure Stravinsky's Pulcinella in the audiophile Original Source edition and experience a milestone of modernism in pure analogue sound. Order now from the<a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en">&nbsp;DG Store</a> and delve deeper into the Original Source vinyl collection!
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Agnes Obel releases her new album 'The Meaning of Flowers'

With The Meaning of Flowers, <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel">Agnes Obel</a> returns with new music six years after her album <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-myopia-118580">Myopia</a>. Across twelve atmospheric tracks, the Danish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist explores themes such as new beginnings, change and the close connection between humans and nature. Agnes Obel&rsquo;s new album has been available from Deutsche Grammophon on CD, vinyl and digitally since 18 September 2026. Agnes Obel discusses the background to and inspirations for the album in this <a href="https://www.grainsmusic.com/articles/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-280470">interview with grains</a>.
<h3>An album about change, growth and new perspectives</h3>
With The Meaning of Flowers, Agnes Obel draws on familiar elements of her earlier music and combines them with a changed personal perspective. One of the starting points for the album was the birth of her first child, which ushered in a period of profound change for the Berlin-based artist. In the twelve new tracks, she explores how new life can change our perception, our bodies and our relationship with the world around us. Growth, metamorphosis and connection form a recurring thread throughout the album.
<h3>Personal experiences meet literature and philosophy</h3>
Agnes Obel draws on a range of cultural and personal sources to shape the world of The Meaning of Flowers. Her inspirations include the poetry of the ancient author Enheduanna and philosophical ideas from Hannah Arendt and Emanuele Coccia. Memories of the Danish pop scene of the 1980s and 1990s also find their way into her musical work. The album thus connects individual experiences with broader questions about birth, change and humanity&rsquo;s relationship with the living world.
<h3>Agnes Obel produces The Meaning of Flowers in her Berlin studio</h3>
Musically, too, The Meaning of Flowers consistently bears Agnes Obel&rsquo;s own distinctive imprint. The artist wrote, arranged, produced and recorded the entire album herself in her Berlin studio. In doing so, she continues her approach, in which composition, arrangement and production are closely intertwined. The twelve genre-spanning tracks unfold the atmospheric sound world for which Agnes Obel is known, combining it with new thematic impulses. The tracklist includes &ldquo;The Meaning of Flowers&rdquo;, &ldquo;Laymelli&rdquo;, &ldquo;Gemini&rdquo;, &ldquo;Blood so Red&rdquo;, &ldquo;Beyond the Sun&rdquo; and &ldquo;Faustian Deal&rdquo;.
<h3>The Meaning of Flowers on CD and in several vinyl editions</h3>
Agnes Obel&rsquo;s new album is available from the DG Store in six different editions. Alongside the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-121228">Brilliant Black CD</a>, featuring a completely black data side, The Meaning of Flowers is available on <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-121220">Black Vinyl</a>, pressed on black 180g vinyl, and as <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-121139">Black Vinyl with access to Hi-Res audio downloads</a>.
Also available are a <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-121216">Purple Marbled Vinyl Edition</a>, pressed on exclusive 180g marbled vinyl, and a limited, exclusive <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-121225">&ldquo;Smokey Silver&rdquo; Marbled Vinyl Edition</a>. Another limited &ldquo;Smokey Silver&rdquo; Marbled LP Edition includes a <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel/products/agnes-obel-the-meaning-of-flowers-121222">signed art card featuring an unpublished photograph of Agnes Obel</a>. The album is therefore available in a range of editions for music lovers, vinyl fans and collectors, from the CD and classic black vinyl to special coloured pressings.
<h3>Discover Agnes Obel&rsquo;s The Meaning of Flowers in the DG Store</h3>
With The Meaning of Flowers, Agnes Obel opens a new chapter in her musical journey. Released on 18 September 2026, the album combines her distinctive musical language with personal experiences and new thematic impulses. Discover the twelve tracks and choose from the CD, black vinyl and exclusive coloured vinyl editions. The Meaning of Flowers is now <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel">available in the DG Store</a>.

Justus Eichhorn: The Source – das DG-Debütalbum des Pianisten aus Weimar

Mit The Source pr&auml;sentiert <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/de/kuenstler-innen/justus-eichhorn">Justus Eichhorn</a> sein Deb&uuml;talbum bei <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/de">Deutsche Grammophon</a>. Der 2009 in Weimar geborene Pianist, Komponist und Arrangeur widmet seine erste Ver&ouml;ffentlichung beim gelben Label ganz der Musikgeschichte seiner Heimatstadt. Das Album ist seit dem 11. September 2026 digital, auf CD und Vinyl erh&auml;ltlich.
<h3>The Source: eine Hommage an Weimar, eine Stadt der Musik</h3>
Weimar ist weit mehr als Eichhorns Geburtsstadt. Die th&uuml;ringische Stadt z&auml;hlt zu den bedeutendsten Musikzentren Europas. Johann Sebastian Bach wirkte hier als Hoforganist und Konzertmeister, Franz Liszt pr&auml;gte als Hofkapellmeister das Musikleben des 19. Jahrhunderts, und auch der junge Richard Strauss &uuml;bernahm am Weimarer Hoftheater den Taktstock. The Source folgt genau diesen Spuren: Das Programm vereint Werke von Komponisten, die eng mit Weimar verbunden sind, darunter Bach, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Hindemith und Richard Strauss.
<h3>Das Album: von Bach und Liszt bis zu eigenen Kompositionen</h3>
Das Repertoire ist so vielseitig wie die Stadt selbst. Neben Klavierwerken dieser Meister zeigt sich Eichhorn auch als eigenst&auml;ndiger kreativer Kopf: The Source enth&auml;lt die Ersteinspielungen von drei seiner eigenen Kompositionen, sein pers&ouml;nliches Arrangement des Largo aus Vivaldis Flautino-Konzert C-Dur, RV 443, sowie fantasievolle Neuinterpretationen von Et&uuml;den Carl Czernys. So entsteht ein Programm, das Tradition und Innovation verbindet. Einige Titel wurden bereits vorab ver&ouml;ffentlicht, darunter das Vivaldi-Arrangement und Eichhorns eigene Komposition Silent Fields, eingespielt auf einem Klavier mit aufrechter Bauweise.
<h3>Justus Eichhorn: Pianist, Komponist und Ausnahmetalent mit 16 Jahren</h3>
Justus Eichhorn z&auml;hlt zu den bemerkenswertesten jungen K&uuml;nstlern der klassischen Musik. Bereits im Alter von drei Jahren improvisierte er am Klavier, mit sechs erhielt er seinen ersten Unterricht und mit zehn gab er sein Konzertdeb&uuml;t. Es folgten Auszeichnungen, darunter der erste Preis beim Carl Bechstein Wettbewerb 2019. Heute studiert er bei Grigory Gruzman an der Hochschule f&uuml;r Musik Franz Liszt Weimar und besucht das Musikgymnasium Schloss Belvedere, eine spezialisierte Musikschule, an der er auch Dirigieren lernt. Mit ausverkauften Konzerten von Hamburg und Z&uuml;rich bis Shenzhen und Seoul sowie einer Online-Community von mehr als einer halben Million Followern erreicht er ein Publikum weit &uuml;ber die traditionelle Klassikh&ouml;rerschaft hinaus.
<h3>The Source auf CD, Vinyl und in Dolby Atmos</h3>
The Source ist seit dem 11. September 2026 in verschiedenen Formaten erh&auml;ltlich. Neben der CD und der digitalen Edition ist das Album auch auf Vinyl und in Dolby Atmos verf&uuml;gbar, das ein besonders immersives, r&auml;umliches H&ouml;rerlebnis erm&ouml;glicht. So k&ouml;nnen H&ouml;rer Justus Eichhorns DG-Deb&uuml;t in dem Format entdecken, das am besten zu ihnen passt.
<h3>The Source von Justus Eichhorn entdecken</h3>
Ein Deb&uuml;t, das Herkunft und Aufbruch verbindet: The Source von Justus Eichhorn w&uuml;rdigt das musikalische Erbe Weimars und stellt zugleich die eigenen Kompositionen und unverwechselbaren Arrangements des jungen Pianisten vor. Entdecken Sie das Album, das am 11. September 2026 bei Deutsche Grammophon erschienen ist, und weitere Neuheiten im <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/de/katalog">Katalog</a>.
➤ Jetzt im DG Store bestellen oder weitere Neuheiten im <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/de/katalog">Katalog</a> entdecken!

Bruce Liu presents Lunaris, a nocturnal journey through piano music

With his new <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/bruce-liu-lunaris-117285?_pos=3&amp;_sid=b24665756&amp;_ss=r">album </a><a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/bruce-liu-lunaris-117285?_pos=3&amp;_sid=b24665756&amp;_ss=r">Lunaris</a>, <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/bruce-liu">Bruce Liu</a> invites listeners on an atmospheric journey through moonlight, dreams and musical imagination. The Canadian pianist brings together familiar masterpieces, rarely heard compositions and contemporary sound worlds in a personal recital programme. Spanning several centuries, the works come together without losing the album&rsquo;s underlying narrative thread.
Lunaris was released on 7 August 2026 by Deutsche Grammophon and is available on CD, 2LP and in signed editions.
<h3>Lunaris brings together Beethoven, Chopin and modern sound worlds</h3>
At the heart of Bruce Liu&rsquo;s new album are two of Ludwig van Beethoven&rsquo;s most famous piano sonatas: the &ldquo;Moonlight Sonata&rdquo; and the &ldquo;Waldstein Sonata&rdquo;. While the former, with its mysterious calm, immediately evokes the nocturnal atmosphere suggested by the album&rsquo;s title, the &ldquo;Waldstein Sonata&rdquo; brings energy, movement and dazzling virtuosity to the programme. These two major works are complemented by Chopin&rsquo;s Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2, Debussy&rsquo;s R&ecirc;verie and a Bach prelude arranged by Alexander Siloti.
With &ldquo;Tokka&rdquo; by <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/agnes-obel">Agnes Obel</a>, Ligeti&rsquo;s rhythmically striking &eacute;tude &ldquo;Fanfares&rdquo; and John Cage&rsquo;s atmospheric piano piece &ldquo;Dream&rdquo;, Bruce Liu expands the traditional recital with modern and unexpected colours. As a result, Lunaris unfolds as a varied musical arc, moving between contemplative stillness and extroverted virtuosity.
<h3>Bruce Liu reveals a particularly personal side on Lunaris</h3>
Bruce Liu sees the album not simply as a collection of favourite works, but as an invitation to listen in a different way. Poetry, painting and the mystery of the night provide the conceptual backdrop for a programme shaped by moods and transitions between sound worlds.
Alongside familiar compositions, the album also brings lesser-recorded works into focus, including Federico Mompou&rsquo;s variations on &ldquo;Au clair de la lune&rdquo; and Scriabin&rsquo;s Fourth Piano Sonata. They add further colours to the album and underline Liu&rsquo;s interest in music that seems, for a moment, to dissolve the boundaries of time and space.
<h3>From Chopin competition winner to versatile musical storyteller</h3>
Since winning the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2021, Bruce Liu has become one of the most sought-after pianists of his generation on the international stage. His interpretations are distinguished by technical ease, tonal elegance and a spontaneous musical approach. His special affinity with <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/frederic-chopin">Chopin</a> remains audible on Lunaris, but the album broadens its perspective considerably beyond Romantic piano repertoire. Works by <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/beethoven">Beethoven</a>, <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/johann-sebastian-bach">Bach</a>, Debussy, Mompou, Ligeti, Scriabin, Cage and Agnes Obel reveal Liu as a versatile curator of musical programmes, intuitively connecting different eras.
<h3>Lunaris on CD, vinyl and in signed editions</h3>
Bruce Liu's Lunaris album is available in several formats, appealing to both CD listeners and vinyl collectors. Alongside the standard <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/bruce-liu-lunaris-117285">CD</a> and the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/bruce-liu-lunaris-117289">black 2LP edition</a>, signed art card editions are also available. A <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/bruce-liu-kopie-lunaris-117296">limited signed Fan Edition</a> is also offered, bringing together the album&rsquo;s CD and vinyl contents.
Discover the different editions of Lunaris in the DG Store and choose your preferred version. Released on 7 August 2026, Bruce Liu&rsquo;s piano album is now available on CD and vinyl. Find all available editions in the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/search?q=lunaris">DG Store</a>.

Joe Hisaishi: Symphony No. 3 & Harp Concerto

On&nbsp;Symphony No. 3 &amp; Harp Concerto, the internationally acclaimed Japanese composer and conductor&nbsp;<a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/joe-hisaishi">Joe Hisaishi</a>&nbsp;brings together the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the renowned harpist Emmanuel Ceysson. The album unites two major works in a world-premiere recording: Hisaishi&rsquo;s Symphony No. 3 &ldquo;Metaphysica&rdquo; and a new harp concerto written especially for Ceysson.
In this way, the recording combines symphonic grandeur with soloistic virtuosity and Hisaishi&rsquo;s unmistakable musical language, poised between cinematic poetry and contemporary classical music.
<h2>A Harp Concerto That Reimagines the Harp</h2>
The idea for the harp concerto took shape in 2023, following Hisaishi&rsquo;s performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl before an audience of 17,500. Working closely with Emmanuel Ceysson, he developed a three-movement work that explores the sonic possibilities of the harp anew.
Far removed from familiar notions of gentle restraint, the concerto reveals a bold, dynamic voice: carried by driving rhythms, moments of introspection and a dance-like energy that culminates in a powerful, electrifying finale.
<h2>Symphony No. 3 &ldquo;Metaphysica&rdquo;: Sound in Motion</h2>
The album is complemented by Hisaishi&rsquo;s Symphony No. 3 &ldquo;Metaphysica&rdquo;, commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the New Japan Philharmonic and premiered in 2021 under the composer&rsquo;s baton. Conceived as an exploration of &ldquo;sonic movement&rdquo;, the symphony unfolds across three sections (existence, where are we going? and substance), whose finely structured rhythmic and harmonic processes grow into expressive soundscapes.
<h2>Joe Hisaishi: From Cinema to the Concert Hall</h2>
Joe Hisaishi ranks among Japan&rsquo;s most influential composers. He achieved worldwide fame through his decades-long collaboration with Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, on films such as&nbsp;Princess Mononoke,&nbsp;Spirited Away&nbsp;and&nbsp;My Neighbor Totoro.
Since 2023 he has been an exclusive Deutsche Grammophon artist, with the label presenting the full breadth of his work as composer, conductor and pianist. Following&nbsp;A Symphonic Celebration,&nbsp;Joe Hisaishi in Vienna&nbsp;and&nbsp;Joe Hisaishi Conducts,&nbsp;Symphony No. 3 &amp; Harp Concerto&nbsp;marks the next chapter in this series.
<h2>Symphony No. 3 &amp; Harp Concerto on CD, Vinyl and in Dolby Atmos</h2>
Released on 24 July 2026, the album brings together composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi, soloist Emmanuel Ceysson and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Deutsche Grammophon. It is available in digital, CD and vinyl formats, with the vinyl editions including a black LP and a premium Crystal Clear double LP in a gatefold sleeve. For a particularly immersive listening experience, the recording is also available in Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos.
<h2>Discover Symphony No. 3 &amp; Harp Concerto Now</h2>
Experience&nbsp;Symphony No. 3 &amp; Harp Concerto&nbsp;by Joe Hisaishi, featuring Emmanuel Ceysson and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Stream the album&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stage-plus.com/audio/album_85M64TBDBSPJCDHP6C?at=dg-website">on STAGE+</a>&nbsp;in the highest video and audio quality, or discover the physical editions&nbsp;<a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en/products/joe-hisaishi-symphony-no-3-metaphysica-harp-concerto-118654">in the DG Store</a>.

Herbert von Karajan and Wagner’s Die Walküre: The Original Source Edition

With Die Walk&uuml;re, one of the most influential Wagner recordings of the 20th century returns: <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/herbert-von-karajan">Herbert von Karajan</a> and the Berlin Philharmonic, recorded in the autumn of 1966 in Berlin, now in the audiophile series The Original Source. The recording brings together a cast of world-class singers, including Gundula Janowitz (Sieglinde), Jon Vickers (Siegmund), Thomas Stewart (Wotan), and R&eacute;gine Crespin (Br&uuml;nnhilde).
In this way, the reissue unites the dramatic force of Wagner&rsquo;s music drama with a sound quality drawn, for the first time, directly from the original stereo master tape: a reference recording newly opened up for collectors and Wagner connoisseurs.
<h2>Wagner&rsquo;s Die Walk&uuml;re: For the First Time from the Original Stereo Master Tape</h2>
For this edition, Deutsche Grammophon ventures into new sonic territory. For the first time in the series The Original Source, the original two-track stereo master tape serves as the source. Launched in 2023, the series initially worked with four-track tapes, expanded in 2024 to include eight-track tapes, and now reaches a new level of authenticity with Karajan&rsquo;s Walk&uuml;re.
The recording was remastered and cut at the renowned Emil Berliner Studios, in a fully analogue signal chain (AAA) and using processes developed specifically for the series. The result is compelling: greater transparency, finer detail, and a more balanced frequency response, combined with reduced background noise, less distortion, and lower compression.
<h2>What Makes Herbert von Karajan&rsquo;s Die Walk&uuml;re So Special?</h2>
Karajan&rsquo;s reading thrives on a distinguished cast. Gundula Janowitz lends Sieglinde a lyrical radiance, Jon Vickers shapes Siegmund with vocal power, bass-baritone Thomas Stewart forms an authoritative Wotan, and R&eacute;gine Crespin shines as Br&uuml;nnhilde. The cast also includes Josephine Veasey as Fricka and Martti Talvela as Hunding.
Characteristic of Karajan&rsquo;s approach is the way he allows the orchestra to recede, giving the voices centre stage without sacrificing the dramatic tension of the score. Gramophone magazine observed that the recording still has the power to surprise more than half a century after its release.
<h2>Herbert von Karajan and the Ring Cycle&rsquo;s 150th Anniversary</h2>
The recording sessions took place in September and October 1966, just months before the staged production opened the Salzburg Easter Festival, founded by Karajan, on 19 March 1967. Die Walk&uuml;re was first released on the yellow label later that year and became a milestone in Wagner discography.
Wagner&rsquo;s tetralogy was performed in its entirety for the first time at the inaugural Bayreuth Festival in 1876. To mark the 150th anniversary, Deutsche Grammophon is reissuing Karajan&rsquo;s complete Ring in the Original Source series. Die Walk&uuml;re, the first day of the cycle, follows the already released preliminary evening, <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/herbert-von-karajan-wagner-das-rheingold-111281">Das Rheingold</a>; two further instalments of the tetralogy have been announced.
<h2>Formats, Edition and Availability</h2>
The edition was released on 7 August 2026 as a limited, numbered 5LP box set pressed on 180-gram vinyl. The set preserves the original cover and includes the complete libretto, additional photographs, and facsimiles of the recording logs and tape boxes, offering a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the production.
<h2>Discover Wagner&rsquo;s Die Walk&uuml;re Now</h2>
Discover the limited Original Source edition in the DG Store. Those wishing to collect Karajan&rsquo;s Ring from the beginning can also find further <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/pages/audiophile-editions">audiophile editions</a> and the complete <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/herbert-von-karajan">Karajan collection</a>.

Friendship Survival Guide: Jóhann Jóhannsson and Adam Wiltzie Complete a Shared Legacy

Some albums tell a story not only of music, but of a friendship. Friendship Survival Guide, the joint work of Icelandic composer J&oacute;hann J&oacute;hannsson and American sound artist <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en/collections/adam-wiltzie">Adam Wiltzie</a>, was released on 18 September 2026 by Deutsche Grammophon. It gathers recordings made during shared sessions between 2013 and 2017, which Wiltzie carefully continued and completed after the death of his companion. Read more about their friendship and the making of the album in this <a href="https://www.grainsmusic.com/articles/adam-wiltzie-johann-johannsson-the-sound-of-friendship-280241">interview with Adam Wiltzie on grains</a>.
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h2>Friendship Survival Guide: A Collaboration Years in the Making</h2>
J&oacute;hannsson and Wiltzie were bound by far more than a single project. The two worked closely together for over a decade: Wiltzie was part of J&oacute;hannsson's live band and served as his sound engineer before they first wrote and recorded together in 2013, among other things for the film score to The Theory of Everything. Their ideas often took shape in separate studios, J&oacute;hannsson in Berlin, Wiltzie in Belgium, in an easy and playful exchange. With the blessing of J&oacute;hannsson's family, Wiltzie later returned to these tapes to finish what had been started, in the spirit of his friend.
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<h2>The Album: Orchestral Breadth, Electronics and Floating Drones</h2>
Sonically, the album moves through a wide open space: sustained orchestral textures meet electronic layers and long, floating drones. Wiltzie himself describes the music as orchestral psychedelic drone compositions. Despite all the later work, the intimacy of the original sessions remains audible, enriched by subtle additions that stay true to the character of the material. Contributions from guests such as Tim Hecker, Francesco Donadello and Steve Albini deepen this sound world further. The result is a work that invites listeners to surrender to a slowly unfolding soundscape.
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h2>J&oacute;hann J&oacute;hannsson and Adam Wiltzie: Two Sound Worlds, One Friendship</h2>
J&oacute;hann J&oacute;hannsson ranks among the most influential film composers of his generation. His music for films such as Sicario, Arrival and The Theory of Everything combined orchestral depth with electronic exploration. In 2016 his acclaimed album Orph&eacute;e appeared on Deutsche Grammophon, before the Icelandic artist passed away in 2018.
Adam Wiltzie, in turn, is a central figure in contemporary ambient and drone music, as co-founder of Stars of the Lid (together with Brian McBride) and as one half of the duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen. In Friendship Survival Guide these two signatures merge into a shared whole. Listeners wishing to explore J&oacute;hannsson's musical language at the piano will find another way in through Alice Sara Ott's album <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en/products/alice-sara-ott-johann-johannsson-piano-works-110344">J&oacute;hann J&oacute;hannsson: Piano Works</a>.
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<h2>Friendship Survival Guide on Vinyl, CD and in Hi-Res Audio</h2>
Friendship Survival Guide is available in several editions. Alongside the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en/products/johann-johannsson-friendship-survival-guide-120300">CD</a>, the album is available on <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en/products/johann-johannsson-friendship-survival-guide-120296">vinyl</a>, including an edition that pairs the LP with a Hi-Res audio download. This lets you experience the work both on the turntable and in high-resolution digital sound.
An album about friendship and the enduring life of music: Friendship Survival Guide by J&oacute;hann J&oacute;hannsson and Adam Wiltzie is available from Deutsche Grammophon.
➤ Order now at the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en">DG Store</a> and discover <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-en/collections/johann-johannsson">more from J&oacute;hann J&oacute;hannsson</a>.

'Legacy' brings together John Williams’s most famous film scores

Released on 4 September 2026, Legacy is a comprehensive musical retrospective of <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/collections/john-williams">John Williams</a>. The album brings together some of the most famous themes by the award-winning composer and conductor, from the vast reaches of the Star Wars universe and the magical world of Harry Potter to the adventures of Indiana Jones.
What makes the album special is that John Williams is heard not only as a composer, but also conducting his own works. The recordings were made with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles. The release thus combines world-famous melodies with the distinctive sounds of three outstanding orchestras.
<h3>A musical journey through the world of cinema</h3>
Legacy offers a multifaceted portrait of John Williams as one of the most influential film composers of his generation. The album comprises 15 pieces from different stages of his long career, showcasing the remarkable stylistic range of his music.
The album opens with the &ldquo;Main Title&rdquo; from Star Wars: A New Hope, whose distinctive fanfare has been one of the best-known openings in film history for decades. The Star Wars saga is also represented by &ldquo;Yoda&rsquo;s Theme&rdquo;, &ldquo;The Imperial March&rdquo;, &ldquo;Princess Leia&rsquo;s Theme&rdquo; and &ldquo;Throne Room &amp; Finale&rdquo;. Together, these compositions demonstrate how Williams uses unmistakable musical motifs to characterise individual figures, places and conflicts.
With &ldquo;Hedwig&rsquo;s Theme&rdquo; and &ldquo;Harry&rsquo;s Wondrous World&rdquo;, the album also explores the music for Harry Potter and the Philosopher&rsquo;s Stone. While the famous celesta melody of &ldquo;Hedwig&rsquo;s Theme&rdquo; creates an atmosphere of mystery, &ldquo;Harry&rsquo;s Wondrous World&rdquo; reveals the colourful and celebratory side of the wizarding world. Other highlights include the powerful &ldquo;Raiders March&rdquo; from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the sweeping theme from Jurassic Park and the weightless-sounding &ldquo;Flying Theme&rdquo; from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
The selection is not limited to adventure and fantasy films, however. With the understated &ldquo;Theme from Schindler&rsquo;s List&rdquo;, Legacy also reveals the quieter, deeply emotional side of John Williams. The &ldquo;Superman March&rdquo;, the &ldquo;Olympic Fanfare and Theme&rdquo;, excerpts from Close Encounters of the Third Kind and &ldquo;The Flight to Neverland&rdquo; from Hook add further key works to the programme.
<h3>John Williams conducts his own compositions</h3>
The release gains a special appeal from the close connection between composition and interpretation. John Williams conducts all the recordings featured on the album, bringing his famous film scores to life at first hand.
Under his direction, the distinctive colours of the scores emerge with particular clarity. Bold brass fanfares, sweeping string melodies and finely balanced orchestral textures combine to create the unmistakable sound that has defined his music for decades.
For these recordings, Williams worked with the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles. Each ensemble brings its own sound tradition and musical character to these familiar works.
Even without the accompanying film images, the compositions make a powerful impression. Memorable leitmotifs, rhythmic energy and expansive melodic arcs allow the pieces to stand as symphonic works in their own right.
<h3>Legacy is available on CD and in two vinyl editions</h3>
The John Williams album is available in three editions: a compact CD version and two double-LP editions.
The <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/john-williams-wiener-philharmoniker-legacy-118742">1CD Digipack Edition</a> contains the complete programme of all 15 pieces, offering a direct introduction to this musical retrospective. Vinyl fans can choose between the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/john-williams-wiener-philharmoniker-berliner-philharmoniker-legacy-118837">2LP Black Vinyl Gatefold Edition</a> and the <a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/de-de/products/john-williams-wiener-philharmoniker-berliner-philharmoniker-legacy-118840">2LP Gold Vinyl Gatefold Edition</a>. Both vinyl editions spread the album across four sides, giving each composition ample space to unfold its orchestral impact.
All three editions are accompanied by liner notes by the renowned American journalist and film music expert Jon Burlingame. His commentary provides additional background on the works featured and reinforces Legacy&rsquo;s character as a comprehensive retrospective of John Williams&rsquo;s career.
<h3><a href="https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/en-de/products/john-williams-wiener-philharmoniker-legacy-118742?_pos=2&amp;_sid=a9d8afd54&amp;_ss=r&amp;_gl=1%2A22d1b9%2A_gcl_au%2AMTEwMTg2OTM4OS4xNzkwNjg4ODc4Li0uLS4xNzkyNzYxMTM5Ljg0NTc0NDExMC4xNzkyNzYxMTM5LjE3OTI3NjExMzk.%2A_ga%2AODg2OTA5MjguMTcxNDAzNzY4Mw..%2A_ga_19WQV77DKT%2AczE3OTI3Njg4MDEkbzY1NyRnMSR0MTc5Mjc2OTMxMyRqNjAkbDAkaDUyODM3MTgxNA..">Order John Williams: Legacy now at the DG Store</a></h3>
Legacy is available at the DG Store. Discover the John Williams album on CD, black vinyl or gold vinyl, and order your preferred edition now!

Floating Points: Mere Mortals, Sam Shepherd’s first full-length ballet score

With Mere Mortals, Floating Points, the musical alter ego of British composer, producer and DJ Sam Shepherd, presents his first full-length ballet score. The fourteen-part album was released in all formats on 28 August 2026 on <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en">Deutsche Grammophon</a>. The work grew out of a commission from Tamara Rojo, artistic director of San Francisco Ballet, who also staged the production.
The choreography is by Aszure Barton, with set design and visuals by Hamill Industries. Mere Mortals received its premiere in January 2024 at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Mere Mortals: Floating Points sets the myth of Pandora to music</h2>
At its heart lies the ancient tale of Pandora, the first woman of Greek mythology, whose curiosity brought humankind both ruin and hope in equal measure. Shepherd translates this material into an interplay of elegiac strings, urgent brass and pulsing electronics.
Recorded with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, acoustic forces and synthetic textures merge into a single, irresistible pull. The title itself points straight to the core of the work: Mere Mortals explores the boundary between human and machine, between the transient and the constructed.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>The album: fourteen movements between orchestra and electronics</h2>
The score follows the arc of the myth across fourteen movements, from Fire and Hope through the percussive uproar of Rage of the Gods to the open close of Nowhere to Land. Solo moments set fine accents along the way: the lyrical solo violin of Cordula Merks in Hope, the delicate harp of Miriam Adefris in Her Gift, before the eerie mood of Opening of the Jar lifts the lid of the proverbial vessel. The singles Falling to Earth and Her Gift were already released ahead of the album, first glimpses of a sound world that challenges listeners as much as it seduces them.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Floating Points, aka Sam Shepherd: from the club to the concert hall</h2>
Sam Shepherd is a musician of many worlds: classically trained, once a chorister at Manchester Cathedral and a pupil at the renowned Chetham's School of Music, later celebrated as Floating Points on stages across the international club scene. His albums include Elaenia, Crush and the Mercury Prize-nominated Promises, recorded with jazz saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra. Mere Mortals now marks his debut on the Yellow Label and the most ambitious step in his output to date.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>
<h2>Mere Mortals on vinyl, CD and in Dolby Atmos</h2>
For collectors, the DG Store offers a Deluxe Edition on crystal-clear vinyl (2LP), with etched details, a removable outer sleeve, and an expanded booklet featuring a handwritten score by the artist. Alongside this, Mere Mortals is available as a standard 2LP, as a CD, and digitally, including in Dolby Atmos for an immersive listening experience. At the same time, the ballet returns to the stage: following its European premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival (28 to 30 August 2026, with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra), the production runs from 9 to 12 September 2026 at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London (with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia).
Between antiquity and the future, between orchestra and synthesizer: Mere Mortals by Floating Points has been available since 28 August 2026 on Deutsche Grammophon.
➤ Order now at the DG Store and secure the Deluxe Vinyl Edition, or discover more new releases in the <a href="https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue">catalogue</a>.

Deutsche Grammophon China and Xinghai Concert Hall Present the Inaugural DG Music Festival in Guangzhou

Curated by Daniel Hope, the four-day festival celebrates classical music, cross-cultural collaboration and China&rsquo;s emerging musical voices, November 15&ndash;18, 2026
GUANGZHOU, CHINA &mdash; Deutsche Grammophon China and Xinghai Concert Hall will jointly present the inaugural DG Music Festival in Guangzhou from November 15 to 18, 2026. The first officially presented in-person music festival in the label&rsquo;s nearly 130-year history will bring together leading Chinese and international artists for four days of concerts, exhibitions and encounters with audiences.
With the globally renowned violinist and DG artist Daniel Hope serving as the festival&rsquo;s Curator and Guest Artistic Director, the programme features three headline concerts alongside a wide-ranging series of exhibitions and public events. Participating artists include cellist Jian Wang, pianists Xiaofu Ju and Yingjia Xue, guzheng artist Yang Yang, vocalist Linna Gong and the AIR Ensemble. Immediately preceding the core festival performances, longstanding DG artist Yuja Wang will be appearing at Xinghai Concert Hall with Mahler Chamber Orchestra and kicking off the celebration.
Spanning solo recitals, chamber music, vocal performances and cross-cultural collaborations, the festival places classical masterworks alongside traditional melodies, new arrangements and original compositions. It invites audiences across the Greater Bay Area to experience music as a living dialogue between cultures and generations.
A Historic Partnership, a Long-Term Vision
Founded in 1898, Deutsche Grammophon has long been one of the world&rsquo;s most prestigious classical music labels. With nearly three decades of history, Xinghai Concert Hall is an internationally renowned, world-class concert hall and one of China&rsquo;s most influential performing arts venues.
Launched in 2025, DG China is dedicated to discovering and supporting Chinese musical talent in keeping with DG&rsquo;s artistic standards, and bringing China&rsquo;s voices to the world. The festival marks an important step in that commitment. More than a touring event, it is envisioned as a lasting cultural initiative developed together with Xinghai Concert Hall.
Guangzhou&rsquo;s longstanding openness to international exchange provides a fitting setting for this collaboration. Bringing DG&rsquo;s recording heritage into dialogue with Xinghai Concert Hall&rsquo;s dynamic artistic programme, the festival will create a shared space for established masters, emerging artists and audiences to listen, discover and connect.
Dr. Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon and New Business Strategy Global Classics at Universal Music: &ldquo;For nearly 130 years, Deutsche Grammophon has championed exceptional artists and brought their music to audiences around the world. The inaugural DG Music Festival in Guangzhou opens a new chapter in that mission, creating a space where our artistic heritage meets the energy and imagination of Chinese musicians. With Daniel Hope as Curator and Xinghai Concert Hall as our esteemed partner, we look forward to celebrating the power of live music to connect cultures, generations and communities.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We hope that what we create over these four days at Xinghai Concert Hall will be more than a few concerts: a truly open musical space that welcomes all music and conveys hope and energy,&rdquo; says Daniel Hope, Curator and Guest Artistic Director of DG Music Festival. &ldquo;Music&rsquo;s most precious power is not to show us how different we are, but to remind us to share, understand and discover together.&rdquo;
Three Concerts, Three Musical Journeys
Salut d&rsquo;Amour
November 16, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. Jian Wang and Yingjia Xue
The festival&rsquo;s opening headline concert pairs celebrated cellist Jian Wang with pianist Xue Yingjia in a programme of lyrical miniatures spanning the Classical era, Romanticism and the twentieth century.
Highlights include works by Schumann, Saint-Sa&euml;ns, Faur&eacute;, Tchaikovsky, Piazzolla and Elgar, alongside Chinese composer Liu Rongfa&rsquo;s Pastoral Song. Daniel Hope will also make a special appearance.
The first Chinese musician to sign an exclusive contract with DG, Jian Wang embodies a longstanding connection between the label and Chinese artistry. His newly recorded Bach Cello Suites, released in 2025, also marked DG China&rsquo;s first album release.
Music in Harmony
November 17, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. International Masters Meet DG China
Daniel Hope and Jian Wang join Nicola Mosca, principal cellist of the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, and DG China artists Xiaofu Ju and Yang Yang for an evening of musical exchange across generations and traditions.
Bringing together violin, cello, piano, guzheng and Irish harp, the programme includes selections from Tan Dun&rsquo;s Hero Concerto, Mendelssohn&rsquo;s Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, and Xiaofu Ju&rsquo;s arrangements of Dowland&rsquo;s In Darkness Let Me Dwell and Mozart&rsquo;s Lacrimosa from Requiem.
Yang Yang contributes her original work Tianmu Yin and her own arrangement of Ludovico Einaudi&rsquo;s Nuvole Bianche. Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake, arranged by Paul Bateman, and Piazzolla&rsquo;s Winter in Buenos Aires further expand the evening&rsquo;s cross-cultural conversation.
A Night of Brilliance
November 18, 2026 | 8:00 p.m. Daniel Hope, AIR Ensemble and Special Guest Linna Gong
The final headline concert brings Daniel Hope together with the AIR Ensemble and acclaimed vocalist Linna Gong for a journey across more than four centuries of music.
Rooted in the Baroque tradition, the AIR Ensemble moves fluently between early music, folk traditions and cross-cultural arrangements. The programme travels from Renaissance and Baroque Europe to Ireland and China, featuring music by composers including Ortiz, Corelli, Purcell and Vivaldi, alongside Irish traditional melodies and special arrangements of Chinese favourites such as Jasmine Flower, Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon and The Moon Reflected in Erquan.
Beyond the Concert Stage
Throughout the four-day festival, exhibitions and public events will invite audiences to explore the stories, ideas and craftsmanship behind the music.
Four themed exhibitions will showcase performances and artist interviews from DG STAGE+ platform; trace the evolution of DG&rsquo;s album-cover design; celebrate vinyl recordings and the label&rsquo;s recording heritage; and introduce official DG merchandise to China.
The public programme will include a talk marking the 120th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich&rsquo;s birth, alongside artist conversations, music-sharing salons, a session exploring concert etiquette, city walks, signing events and an after-party.
These activities will offer opportunities for audiences to meet musicians beyond the concert stage, extending the festival into a broader cultural experience that encourages curiosity, participation and a deeper connection with classical music.
Full programme details, activity announcements and ticketing conditions are available through Xinghai Concert Hall&rsquo;s official channels.
DG Music Festival 2026 November 15&ndash;18, 2026 Xinghai Concert Hall, Guangzhou, China presented by Deutsche Grammophon China and Xinghai Concert Hall
Public Tickets Contact：<a href="mailto:program@concerthall.com.cn">program@concerthall.com.cn</a>

STAGE+ Launches Its Offer for Academic Libraries Worldwide

Campus licences and consortial models bring classical music, jazz and audiovisual productions to universities and research institutions
Berlin, 27 October 2026. STAGE+, Deutsche Grammophon's streaming service for classical music and jazz, is launching an offer for libraries worldwide. Universities and research institutions can now obtain access through a campus licence or a consortium model. Students, faculty and researchers gain institutional access to a curated selection of audiovisual content, including livestreams, operas, concerts and documentaries, as well as more than 20,000 audio albums. The offer includes recordings spanning the past 119 years from the world's leading labels: Deutsche Grammophon, Decca Classics, ECM Records, Blue Note Records, Impulse!, Verve Records, Hyperion, Myrios and Carus. STAGE+ is the only service that meaningfully brings together audio and video catalogues as well as offerings from classical music and jazz. It therefore covers content types and genres that are otherwise spread across several existing academic platforms.
The academic offer is designed from the outset for institutional use: a campus licence gives access to all members of an institution, including off-campus access via IP authentication. Consortia and library networks can take out shared licences on attractive terms. STAGE+ thus complements individual consumer subscriptions with a model for research, teaching and shared library use. Depending on the production, audio is available in lossless quality up to 24-bit/48 kHz and Dolby Atmos, with video in 4K.
&ldquo;STAGE+ brings a distinctive proposition to the academic classical music and jazz market: it combines extensive audio catalogues with concert and opera productions, as well as live and on-demand video, on a platform available under institutional licences,&rdquo; says Dr Sven Fund, General Manager of STAGE+. &ldquo;The offer complements both research-oriented audio libraries and specialist video archives.&rdquo;
Libraries receive searchable metadata for works, composers, performers and ensembles through STAGE+. Opera subtitles are available to users in ten languages. Dedicated interfaces and usage statistics are also provided specifically for libraries.
The offer is available worldwide. Libraries and consortia can request trial access and pricing information at www.stage-plus.com/libraries&nbsp;
About STAGE+ STAGE+ is Deutsche Grammophon&rsquo;s streaming service for classical music and jazz. Each year, the platform presents more than 50 livestreams from renowned festivals, concert halls and opera houses around the world. Its programme brings together exclusive premieres, on-demand concert and opera productions, music videos, documentaries and interviews, alongside new audio releases and thousands of albums in high-quality audio and video. STAGE+ is available via TV, web and mobile apps. Depending on the production, video is available in up to 4K and audio in lossless, Hi-Res and Dolby Atmos formats; selected content can also be used offline on supported mobile devices. Partners include Carnegie Hall, the Royal Opera House, Staatsoper Berlin and Teatro alla Scala.
www.stage-plus.com &nbsp;

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