This world premiere performance by the Los Angeles Philharmonic was commissioned by the LA Phil with generous support from the MaddocksBrown Fund for New Music as part of its centennial celebrations. Recorded live in May 2019 at Walt Disney Concert Hall and conducted by LA Phil Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen with solo vocalist Nora Fischer.Two artistic discoveries influenced Andriessen as he wrote The only one. The first was a collection of poems by the Flemish poet Delphine Lecompte from The animals in me. His second discovery was the work of Nora Fischer, an Amsterdam–based singer known for developing dynamic creative projects that fuse classical and pop music.

The title “Overture Suites” stems from the stage tradition of the court of Louis XIV in which the overture for an opera, ballet, or play was followed by a set of dances. The term “overture” was applied to the whole grouping, though in actuality these are orchestral suites as we understand the term from J.S. Bach. Some of Telemann’s overture suites are delightful works that must have provided wonderful preparatory entertainment for the evening’s main event. The G major suite, whose title “La Putain” translates as “The Whore”, quotes from the song “It’s been so long since I’ve come to you”. Despite the bawdy name, the suite is filled with jaunty, lively melodies and inventive, characterful dances.

This release, part of harmonia mundi's series celebrating the Beethoven year, pairs the composer's iconic and much-loved Symphony No.5 with the far less well-known Symphony In 17 Parts by Francois-Joseph Gossec. The dramatic power and intensity of Beethoven stands in sharp contrast to to the cheerful and gallant music of Gossec. Les Siècles, led by François-Xavier Roth, apply their usual virtuosity and keen insight to both works in performances that are sure to delight.