'The 94-year-old elder statesman of classical music' (The New York Times) joins forces with the
Gewandhausorchester for a Schubert programme of Symphonies No. 8 ('Unfinished') and No. 9
('The Great'), released just in time for his 95th birthday on 11th July 2022. The choice of repertoire
for his late debut with Deutsche Grammophon was quickly made: Herbert Blomstedt, at 94 the
world's 'longest-serving' conductor and still one of the most vital, chose Franz Schubert's last two
symphonies, the 'Unfinished' in B minor and the 'Great' in C major. With the Gewandhaus
Orchestra, which he presided over as Gewandhauskapellmeister from 1998 to 2005 and has since
been closely associated with as honorary conductor, he had at his disposal an orchestra that is very
familiar with Schubert's music.