This November, PENTATONE releases the world premiere recording of Thomas Adès: The Exterminating Angel Symphony & Violin Concerto.
The Minnesota Orchestra and its new music director Thomas Søndergård delve into the imaginative world of Thomas Adès, a singular voice in contemporary classical music. Featuring two of his most compelling orchestral works, The Exterminating Angel Symphony and the Violin Concerto, this album captures Adès’ uncanny ability to merge intellectual rigor with raw emotional immediacy. With orchestral textures both radiant and unsettling, Adès evokes a surreal musical landscape, brought vividly to life by Søndergård’s incisive direction and violinist Leila Josefowicz’s electrifying performance.
“The Minnesota Orchestra was the first professional orchestra to perform my work in the United States, so it is especially touching to hear them play my music in this breathtaking recording.
I first worked with Thomas Søndergård twenty years ago in Copenhagen on The Tempest and couldn’t imagine a finer pair of hands to entrust with this premiere recording of The Exterminating Angel Symphony.
I have unbounded admiration and affection for the artistry of Leila Josefowicz – without question one the greatest violinists of our time. Performing the Violin Concerto with her is one of my most exciting and moving memories, and I feel exceptionally lucky that after some sixty performances of the piece she has chosen to record her extraordinarily brilliant, deft and passionate interpretation with Thomas and his wonderful orchestra.”
Thomas Adès
This album marks the PENTATONE debut of the Minnesota Orchestra and Leila Josefowicz, while Thomas Søndergård appeared on Lutoslawski & Dutilleux Cello Concertos together with Johannes Moser and Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin in 2018. Released digitally and on CD.
DIGITAL RELEASE DATE: 11 NOVEMBER 2025
PHYSICAL RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 2025
