Simon Rattle and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra deliver an incisive account of Henze's symphonic language. The Seventh Symphony and Barcarola showcase the composer's rich orchestral palette and dramatic gestures. Henze was among the most important classical composers of his era, moving beyond twelve-tone orthodoxy toward a more expressive, politically engaged modernism. Rattle brings clarity and momentum to these scores, negotiating their complex textures with precision. The 1993 EMI recording captures warm, detailed orchestral sound. These works reward patient listening, revealing Henze's sophisticated interplay of rhythm, color, and form.