Born in Moscow to a long-established musical family, Vladimir Jurowski has distinguished himself both in opera and symphonic repertoire. While showing a natural affinity for Russian music, he also studied in Germany (where he is now based), giving him particular insight into works by such composers as Beethoven, Brahms, and Richard Strauss. As principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (2006-21) and chief conductor of the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (since 2017), Jurowski has raised both orchestras to an exceptional level of ensemble and sonic luster. Both feature in this playlist, including Jurowski’s empathetic collaborations with singers in Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde and Zemlinsky’s Six Maeterlinck Songs. For more unusual repertoire, try the “Scherzo” from Tchaikovsky’s Suite No. 3, played with virtuosic spirit by the Russian National Orchestra; or the hair-raisingly mercurial “Allegro” from Schnittke’s Symphony No. 3, that seems so deceptively suave at first…