Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and Dmitry Matvienko release internationally acclaimed debut recording

Several reviewers from the influential American classical music magazine Fanfare highlight both the playing of Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Matvienko’s artistic vision and the technical quality of the recording. Among the headlines are:

“An exceptionally impressive recorded debut”

“The playing is exceptional, the recording award-worthy”

“A revelatory coupling throws new light on the Prokofiev you thought you knew”

“Penetrating conducting, fine playing and great sound”

The recording also marks Dmitry Matvienko’s first major international CD release as Chief Conductor of Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. Matvienko took up the position in 2024 after winning the prestigious Malko Competition.

The album brings together two works that may initially appear very different: Prokofiev’s dramatic, war-scarred Symphony No. 6 from 1947 and Silvestrov’s meditative Quiet Music from 2002. Yet the connection between the two composers has been central to Matvienko’s artistic vision. Drawing on Silvestrov’s belief that “only melody makes music eternal”, the conductor describes both composers as powerful melodists who – despite their very different musical languages – seek humanity and consolation through music.

Prokofiev’s symphony reflects the devastation of the post-war era and foreshadows new catastrophes, while Silvestrov’s music offers a meditative refuge “beyond nationality and religion, where sorrow can briefly be set aside.”

Reviewers have paid particular attention to the level of Aarhus Symphony Orchestra:

“The Aarhus orchestra… has never in my experience sounded like this.”
– Colin Clarke, Fanfare

“The Aarhus Symphony Orchestra respond with playing of consistent excellence, warm, precise, and committed throughout.”
– Dominic Hartley, Fanfare

“World class music making is not limited to just a few major capital cities around the world.”
– William Kempster, Fanfare

The CD was recorded in the Symphonic Hall at Musikhuset Aarhus, Denmark and will be released internationally on OUR Recordings on May 22, 2026.

Facts

Title: Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6 / Silvestrov: Quiet Music
Performers: Aarhus Symphony Orchestra & Dmitry Matvienko
Label: OUR Recordings
Release date: 22 May 2026
Format: CD and digital platforms

More information:
OUR Recordings – album page

About Dmitry Matvienko

Dmitry Matvienko stepped confidently onto the international music scene when he won the Malko Competition for Young Conductors in 2021. The competition led to numerous engagements, including a concert with Aarhus Symphony Orchestra. It was musical love at first sight between conductor and orchestra, and Dmitry Matvienko was subsequently appointed Chief Conductor of Aarhus Symphony Orchestra from the 2024/25 season.

Dmitry Matvienko trained both as a choral singer and répétiteur and even spent a year singing in the opera chorus in Perm under Teodor Currentzis. He later studied conducting at the Moscow Conservatory and, in 2017, joined the conducting internship programme of the Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, where he assisted conductors including Vladimir Jurowski, Vasily Petrenko and Mikhail Jurowski.

At the Belarus National Opera he has conducted Prince Igor, Faust, Iolanta, La Traviata, The Tsar’s Bride, The Firebird and Verdi’s Requiem. In recent seasons he has conducted orchestras including Dallas Symphony, Tokyo Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, National Orchestra of Russia, Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. On the opera stage he has conducted Eugene Onegin at Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Prokofiev’s Betrothal in a Monastery at Theater an der Wien, Korngold’s Die tote Stadt at Novaya Opera in Moscow and Janáček’s From the House of the Dead at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. Most recently, he conducted Aida at Opéra national de Paris.

Dmitry lives in Copenhagen with his wife and son.

About Aarhus Symphony Orchestra

Aarhus Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1935 and is based at Musikhuset Aarhus, where it performs in its own award-winning concert hall, Symfonisk Sal. The orchestra consists of 65 permanent musicians and is led by the young Malko Competition winner Dmitry Matvienko as Chief Conductor. Previous chief conductors include Marc Soustrot, Giancarlo Andretta, James Loughran and Jorma Panula.

The orchestra attracts a large and diverse audience through weekly symphonic concerts, family concerts, chamber concerts and collaborations with festivals and venues including Musikhuset, Smukfest, SPOT Festival and Aarhus Festival. Aarhus Symphony Orchestra is also a regular partner of Den Jyske Opera’s annual productions in Eastern Jutland and maintains an extensive recording activity spanning both Danish contemporary works and the core classical repertoire.

The orchestra also plays an important social and cultural role in the city, presenting special concerts for vulnerable groups and school concerts for more than 10,000 children and young people every year. Most recently, the orchestra has launched a number of new concert formats designed to expand the concert experience and place audiences at the centre by offering both immersive listening experiences and socially oriented concerts.