Deutsche Grammophon, a company steeped in tradition, has recently undertaken a remarkable strategic reorientation.
Deutsche Grammophon, the famous yellow label, is increasingly releasing music intended to appeal to a broader audience. This reorientation manifests itself in a stronger focus on a special kind of “new music” that deliberately focuses on approachability. The works are characterized by a mixture of traditional classical elements and modern influences, which often contain slightly esoteric echoes and subtle electronic accents.
The creation of this new repertoire, which blurs the boundaries between classical music, ambient and experimental electronics, seems to be a conscious effort by the label to cater to the listening habits of a generation that has grown up in a digital age and has a broader approach to a wide variety of musical genres. DG seems to be attempting an exciting balancing act: preserving the tradition of classical music while at the same time looking to the future by exploring new aesthetic paths and incorporating modern technologies. Unfortunately, what is also noticeable is the lack of avant-garde sound structures. So let’s take a look at three recent new releases.
Mari Samuelsen – LIFE
LIFE by Mari Samuelsen is more than just an album; it is a musical diary that captures the artist’s profound emotions during her motherhood. The Norwegian violinist, known for her innovative programming, combines works by contemporary composers with classical music on this album, creating a harmonious yet dynamic soundscape. Samuelsen’s selection ranges from the minimalist sounds of Ludovico Einaudi to the emotional depths of Max Richter, enriched by the influence of artists such as Nils Frahm and Jóhann Jóhannsson. Classical pieces such as Schubert’s Ave Maria also fit seamlessly into the concept. Samuelsen is supported by the strings of Scoring Berlin under Jonathan Stockhammer, which lends the album an orchestral fullness that sometimes seems slightly sweet, but without slipping into kitsch. What is particularly impressive is how Samuelsen manages to combine the intimacy of personal experiences with universal feelings.
Joe Hisaishi In Vienna
The Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, known for his iconic film music, continues his successful career with Deutsche Grammophon with his latest album Joe Hisaishi In Vienna. Recorded with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra at the famous Musikverein, this album shows Hisaishi from a new, more classical side. His Second Symphony and Viola Saga are profound works that highlight Hisaishi’s ability to compose music that is both organic and structurally complex. The symphony is characterized by melodic lines that underlie Hisaishi’s film music, but here he expands his approach with symphonic structures. Viola Saga focuses on the viola and demonstrates Hisaishi’s mastery of solo instruments embedded in a larger orchestral framework. The album combines Western classical music traditions with the delicate sensibility of Japanese music, creating a work that works both in the concert hall and in the intimate listening experience, especially when the solo part is played as hauntingly as it is here by Antoine Tamestit.
Dustin O’Halloran – 1 0 0 1
With 1 0 0 1, Oscar-nominated composer Dustin O’Halloran embarks on an introspective journey exploring the connection between nature, technology and human consciousness. Created at RRO Studios in Reykjavík, the album is an exploration of the complex interactions between these themes, and the result is a work that is both profound and atmospherically dense. O’Halloran, best known as part of the duo A Winged Victory for the Sullen, brings his penchant for ambient music into a new, electronically enriched context on this album. Supported by Paul Corley (Sigur Rós) on electronic production and Bryan Senti on violin, as well as an eight-part choir plus the Budapest Art Orchestra, O’Halloran creates soundscapes that invite “conscious listening”. The listener is invited to experience the album as a whole, much like taking time to contemplate a work of art. This approach invites a deep engagement with the philosophical questions that shape our modern world. 1 0 0 1 is an album that challenges not only musically, but also intellectually.
A double-edged sword
Deutsche Grammophon’s new series, which aims to make contemporary music with classical roots accessible to a wider audience, is undoubtedly an ambitious and interesting project. However, this reinvention of classical music also brings with it challenges. One of these is the danger of musical redundancy. While the selected compositions are undoubtedly of high quality, in some cases you can detect a repetition of thematic and stylistic patterns that creates the feeling that the albums are at times more about atmospheric mood than musical substance. Especially when combining electronic and classical elements, there is a danger that innovation falls by the wayside and certain sound structures are repeated without setting new accents. Deutsche Grammophon is attempting a balancing act here, which is certainly fascinating, but in some cases could be more finely balanced in order to fully exploit the creative possibilities.
Einaudi, Richter, Schubert u. a. – LIFE
Mari Samuelsen, Scoring Berlin, J. Stockhammer u. a.
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Format: LP, LP + sign. Artprint, CD, Stream, DL
Joe Hisaishi – Sinfonie Nr. 2 & Viola Saga
Antoine Tamestit, Wiener Symphoniker, Joe Hisaishi
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Format: 2 LPs (auch als Crystal Clear oder sign. White Label Vinyl Ed.), CD, Stream, DL
Dustin O’Halloran – 1 0 0 1
Brian Senti, Budapest Art Orchestra u. a.
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Format: LP, LP + sign. Artcard, CD, Stream, DL