releases

2020 RELEASES

Rudolf Wagner-Régeny

Genesis · Orchestral Music with piano Mythological Figures
SELINGER SCHLEIERMACHER RUNDFUNKCHOR BERLIN RUNDFUNK-SINFONIEORCHESTER BERLIN · JOHANNES KALITZKE

C5413 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054131

Despite a certain inner distance to the Communist regime, Rudolf Wagner-Régenywas considered one of the most distinguished artistic personalities in East Germany. Karl Böhm and Herbert von Karajan were only two of the distinguished conductors to champion his music. Although he himself was not regarded as a stylistic pioneer, the way Wagner-Régeny took up and blended old and new elements formed a highly individual musical diction that might well be defined as a personal style. Genesis(1955/56) is a blend of oratorio and cantata. It was written prior to East Germany’s ambivalent attitude towards the church. The latter represented the strongest opposition to the regime and was discriminated mainly during Walter Ulbricht’s tenure as the chairman of the Central Committee.

Weitere Bilder

Pancho Vladigerov Edition: Orchestral Works I

Symphony No. 1 · Symphony No. 2 ’May’ · Heroic Overture · ’Autumn Elegy’
BULGARIAN NATIONAL RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · ALEXANDER VLADIGEROV

2CD-Set C8050 PC: 21 UPC: 845221080505

From the diversity of Bulgarian musical culture Pancho Vladigerov stands out as undoubtedly the most important composer for the musical self-conception of modern Bulgaria. In the 1920s he worked as a conductor, pianist and composer in close association with Max Reinhardt at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. He also associated with many German-speaking writers, such as Stefan Zweig, Gerhart Hauptmann, Arthur Schnitzler and Hugo von Hofmannsthal as well as with many fellow composers of the time (including Bartók, Kodály, Strauss, Ravel, Glasunov, Hindemith, Schoenberg, Rachmaninov and Szymanowski). In this light, it is difficult to understand why the imaginative and colourful music by the sound wizard does not possess any appropriate status in European concert halls today. However, in his homeland he held a pre-eminent position up to the end of his life. Irrespective of the prevailing political conditions, he was shown the greatest respect by all sides and granted both personal and state recognition. With these recordings, produced in the 1070s in Bulgaria, Capriccio releases an 18CD Vladigerov-Edition to preserve this colourful music also for the next generations.

Weitere Bilder

Franz & Carl Doppler Edition Vol. 11/12

Ungarischer Hirtengesang · Souvenir de Pest · Csárdás · Magyar Népdalok
Claudi Arimany, János Bálint, Aleksandra Miletic, flutes

C5421 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054216

The Doppler brothers played a dominant role in the K&K Monarchy’s musical life as composers, conductors, musicians and as orchestral soloists. They were on good terms with acknowledged artists of the era, such as Ferenc Liszt, Ferenc Erkel, or Jozsef Bajza.
This is the eleventh release in a set of 12 CDs comprising the Dopplers' complete music for flute(s), including various arrangements. Flautist Claudi Arimany spent decades researching this project, inspiring many famous musicians to become involved in its realisation.

Weitere Bilder

MIECZYSŁAW WEINBERG

Piano Quintet Op. 18 (Orchestral Version) · Children's Notebook Op. 16 & Op. 19
ELISAVETA BLUMINA · GEORGIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA INGOLSTADT · RUBEN GAZARIAN

C5366 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053660

Five years after Shostakovich premiered his quintet to turbulent success in 1940, his new 24-years young friend Weinberg premiered one of his own. For the premiere on March 18^th, the 27-year old Weinberg got the String Quartet of the Bolshoi and a 30-year old pianist, already famous then, by the name of Emil Gilels. The Quintet op.18 is one of the unequivocally great chamber pieces of that time and it is a superb entry-point into the world of Weinberg. As with any truly great masterpiece, a work like the Piano Quintet benefits and indeed demands many and diverging interpretations. This also includes different versions, such as this arrangement of the quintet for chamber ensemble. The idea is hardly far-fetched: Weinberg arranged several of his own works for chamber orchestra; his friend Shostakovich’s string quartets have popularly lent themselves to such arrangements. It suits the treatment naturally – and the orchestral version, therefore, gives us just one more way to discover and enjoy one of Weinberg’s ingenious gifts to his belated but finally eager public.

Weitere Bilder

EGON WELLESZ

THE SACRIFICE OF THE PRISONER · Cult Drama for Dancers, Soloists and Chorus, Op. 40 (1926)
Wolfgang Koch Robert Brooks · WIENER KONZERTCHOR · ORF VIENNA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · FRIEDRICH CERHA

C5423 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054230

‘This West Indian tragedy has remained the sole dramatic work of a heroic world in pre-Columbian times that, after a flourishing heyday, was abruptly terminated by foreign violence.’ Egon Wellesz (1925)

In musical terms, the Opferungshows Egon Wellesz at the zenith of his creativity. In this music, Wellesz’ emancipation from his mentor Schoenberg and his aesthetics has progressed even further, as throughout his life Egon Wellesz was interested in evolving his own, unmistakable musical diction. The events of 12 March 1938 put a sudden end to this so successful career: As a Jew, monarchist and the writer of ‘degenerate music’, the 53-year-old musician was immediately removed from all of his posts and wanted by the police after ‘the seizure of power’. Following a long illness, Egon Wellesz died in Oxford in 1974.

Weitere Bilder

Max Bruch

Concerto for two pianos and orchestra. Op. 88a · Suite on Russian Themes, Op. 79b
MONA & RICA BARD · Staatskapelle Halle · Ariane Matiakh

C5423 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054209

100 years ago the composer Max Bruch died. His remarkably long life of 82 years covered a period in contemporary history that was determined by scientific progress and comprehensive industrialization, developments that also found expression in art. Shortly after the turn of the century the scandals concerning the compositions by Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg were already rocking the musical world, however, Bruch met the tide of events as stoically as a rock: conservative, patriotic and above all unconditionally beholden to Romanticism in music. The present program was recorded during a Max Bruch Jubilee Concert in Halle and focused besides the famous Suite on Russian Themesalso on the rearly performed Concerto for 2 pianos and orchestra.

Weitere Bilder

SU LE SPONDE DEL TEBRO

FRESCOBALDI · SCARLATTI · HÄNDEL· VERDI · BINDER · LEHÁR · MODUGNO · SARTORI
SIOBHAN STAGG · Blechbläserquintett des Deutschen Symphonie-Orchesters Berlin

C5402 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054025

With this 2^ndSolo-Album for Capriccio the Brass Quintet of Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin shows us the rich and colorful musical landscape of Italy. From Barock Era till modern hits of our time the five musicians offer a diversified program through musical history. With soprano Siobhan Stagg, one of the most outstanding young artists to emerge from Australia in recent years, they have a welcome additional support for their creative and virtuoso arrangements.

Weitere Bilder

Pancho Vladigerov Edition

Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5
Ivan Drenikov · Teodor Moussev · Krassimir Gatev · Pancho Vladigerov · BULGARIAN NATIONAL RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · ALEXANDER VLADIGEROV

3CD · C8060 PC: 22 UPC: 845221080604

From the diversity of Bulgarian musical culture Pancho Vladigerov stands out as undoubtedly the most important composer for the musical self-conception of modern Bulgaria. In the 1920s he worked as a conductor, pianist and composer in close association with Max Reinhardt at the Deutsches Theater Berlin. He also associated with many German-speaking writers, such as Stefan Zweig, Gerhart Hauptmann, Arthur Schnitzler and Hugo von Hofmannsthal as well as with many fellow composers of the time (including Bartók, Kodály, Strauss, Ravel, Glasunov, Hindemith, Schoenberg, Rachmaninov and Szymanowski). In this light, it is difficult to understand why the imaginative and colourful music by the sound wizard does not possess any appropriate status in European concert halls today. In terms of style, despite his unmistakable personal note it is not wrong to see his piano concertos in succession to the great Slavonic Romantic concerto tradition, such as it was continued after Tchaikovsky by his Russian compatriots Rachmaninov and Medtner. With these recordings, produced in the 1070s in Bulgaria, Capriccio releases an 18CD Vladigerov-Edition to preserve this colourful music also for the next generations.

Weitere Bilder

HANS ROTT

COMPLETE ORCHESTRAL WORKS - Vol. 1: Hamlet Overture · Prelude to ‘Julius Cäsar’ · Orchestral Suites · Pastoral Prelude etc.
Gürzenich Orchester Köln · Christopher Ward

C5408 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054087

‘It simply cannot be gauged what music has lost with him’ (Gustav Mahler)

Hans Rott was a composer from Gustav Mahler’s environment who had been unknown or known only by name even to most pundits. Many people have expressed the opinion, perhaps justifiably, that only his tragic fate prevented him from going down in the annals of music as Mahler’s equal and establishing a permanent position in the repertoire. A member of Bruckner’s circle within the music scene in Vienna, he developed a pronounced antipathy towards Johannes Brahms. In view of many of his works, it is difficult to comprehend that during Rott’s lifetime presumably not one of them was performed in public, but that only presentations took place under the aegis of internal conservatory events. With these recordings Capriccio attend to fill the gap with his (some of them reconstructed) orchestral works and document these fascinating world of music for the eternity.

Weitere Bilder

FERRUCCIO BUSONI: Early Masterpieces

The Complete Published Pieces 1877–1883
Holger Groschopp, piano

C5416 (3CD-Set) PC: 22 UPC: 845221054162

Ferruccio Busoni was undoubtedly what can be termed a ‘child prodigy’. His maturity as a young pianist can only be indirectly evidenced by contemporary reports. But in his early compositions, his astonishing command of the metier can be assessed directly. In particular, he demonstrated a sure instinct for part writing and counterpoint, before he had received systematic teaching in these disciplines. Busoni connoisseurs will detect unexpected parallels to the works of his mature period; their germ cells, as it were. And the common music lover may find joy in a wealth of piano pieces, some of which at least need not shy any comparison with Schumann, Mendelssohn, Reinecke and Grieg.

Weitere Bilder

CELLO CONCERTOS

Nikolai Kapustin: Cello Concerto No. 1 (World Premiere) · Alfred Schnittke: Cello Concerto No. 1
Eckart Runge · Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin · Frank Strobel

C5362 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053622

In recent years, the jazz-like, classical and modern music by the Ukrainian composer Nikolai Kapustin (*1937) has become an inside tip on classical concert stages. During a visit to Nikolai Kasputin in Moscow ten years ago, the composer entrusted the cellist Eckart Runge with the notes for his Cello Concerto No. 1 op. 85, which, unlike the second one, had neither been performed nor recorded. The work vibrant with energy combines in unparalleled manner colourful symphonic music with the groovy sound of the big band tradition and the virtuosity of a Charlie Parker with the chamber music intimacy of a Miles Davis into a new and fulminant musical diction. With his fascinating, poly-stylistic realm of sound, mirroring an absolutely personal diction, two decades after his death Alfred Schnittke has become one of the composers of the 20^thcentury permanently established in the repertoire. The Concerto for Cello and Orchestra No. 1was commissioned by the City of Munich for the inauguration of the Gasteig Cultural Centre in 1985/86.

Weitere Bilder

HENZE: DER PRINZ VON HOMBURG

MARGITA · SCHNEIDERMAN BÖCKER · ADAMS · EBBECKE
STAATSORCHESTER STUTTGART · CORNELIUS MEISTER

C5405 PC: 22 UPC: 845221054056

‚But tell me, who could have written a better libretto than my friend Heinrich von Kleist. When I was searching for a language in combination with which my music could produce something new, a diction targeted by my music, I hit on the Prince. . […] The tension between the life of the individual and raison d’état, issues as to the disregard of law and order, man’s quivering before the might of ruling authorities and the courage to resist it, all of that might happen today or might have occurred one or two thousand years ago. […]Many of my endeavours in works of recent years appear through this drama to have reached a new point, i.e. a new polyphony and ist concomitant, freely chosen rigour.’ Hans-Werner Henze

Weitere Bilder

ERNST VON DOHNÁNYI

The Piano Concertos
SOFJA GÜLBADAMOVA · DEUTSCHE STAATSPHILHARMONIE RHEINLAND-PFALZ · ARIANE MATIAKH

C5387 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053875

Ernst von Dohnanyi was one of the most versatile and influential musicians of his time but his stage works, orchestral compositions including symphonies, concerti as well as his numerous chamber music are now seldom played. A gap which Capriccio want to fill now with this already fourth recording of his late romantical, sensual music, deeply rooted in the Austro-German classical tradition. There is nothing in the musical language of these Piano Concertos (rhythm, melody, harmony as well as in the traditional orchestration) which Brahms would have found unfamiliar. With Sofia Gülbadamova, who turned out to be an expert in Dohnanyi’s piano music as she has already released his complete Solo Piano Works (Capriccio C5332), this recording was in good hands, carefully accompanied by Ariane Matiakh who also recorded Dohnanyi’s The Veil of Pierrettesome months before (Capriccio C5388).

Weitere Bilder

PARK – ESCHENBACH

LISZT: Wandererfantasie · SCHUBERT: Piano Sonata D664 · BRAHMS: Handel Variations
Christopher Park · NDR SINFONIEORCHESTER · CHRISTOPH ESCHENBACH

C5412 PC: 21 UPC: 845221054124

Conductor Christoph Eschenbach always promoted besides his own career young talented musicians. Like the German and Korean rooted pianist Christopher Park who started meanwhile his own successful path. In one of the meanwhile seldom moments both artists came together for a concert and production with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester in 2014. This on the present CD documented event is compiled with solo piano pieces by Christopher Park and shows us that he has not to hide anymore his virtuos and high musically talent.

Weitere Bilder

MORTON FELDMAN

Coptic Light (1986) · String Quartet and Orchestra (1973)
ARDITTI QUARTET · ORF VIENNA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · MICHAEL BODER · EMILIO POMÀRICO

C5378 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053783

Meditative sound magic from New York City: Together with colleagues and friends such as John Cage, Christian Wolff and Earle Brown, Morton Feldman formed a circle of pre-eminent individualists within the American avant-garde movement of the 20^thcentury, which, commencing in New York, founded a current of international significance. Crucial for his artistic development was undoubtedly his meeting with John Cage (1912–92), with whom he was in close contact after 1950. They mutually inspired each other to create music away from the compositional techniques conventional up to then, which particularly applied to the definition of specific notes, pitches and note durations or regular rhythm. It was also a commission from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and its Principal Conductor, Michael Tilson Thomas that led to the composition of String Quartet and Orchestrain 1973. Feldman’s final completed work Coptic Light, written in 1986, displays an even more gigantic orchestra than that in String Quartet and Orchestra. In his sensitive works we always gain the impression that they are cautious attempts to achieve coherent musical results, without running against the character of the instruments.

Weitere Bilder

A. ZEMLINSKY

Sinfonietta, Op. 23 · Six Songs, Op. 13 „Maeterlinck-Songs“ Der König Kandaules
PETRA LANG · PETER LORENZ ORF VIENNA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · SUSANNA MÄLKKI · GERD ALBRECHT

C5377 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053776

,Just heard your wonderful Symfonietta: hope it is the beginning of your american success’,wrote Arnold Schönberg to Zemlinsky. But Zemlinsky suffert already after a stroke and died some days later on, lonely in New York. In his Sinfonietta op. 24 (1934) he used again a short theme from the last song of his Maeterlinck-Songs, Op. 13 (1913): „Wohin gehst Du?“ (Where are you going?) It’s alredy a theme of ,self-doubts‘ and ‚Farewell’ when Zemlinsky noticed very carefully the more and more stronger restrictions against the Judaism in Vienna. The Maeterlinck-Songs are „the center of his productivity“ (Adorno), and abduct the listeners in a mystic world about life, evanescense and death.

Weitere Bilder

PH. SCHARWENKA

Trios, Op. 121 & Op. 105 · Sonata for viola, Op. 106 · Concert Pieces, Op. 104
Albrecht Laurent Breuninger Lise Berthaud Oliver Triendl

C5391 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053912

Throughout his life, Philipp Scharwenka (1847-1917) was eclipsed by his younger brother, Franz Xaver Scharwenka (1850-1924), who made a world career as a piano virtuoso. It is only from the historical perspective that it becomes clear that Philipp was superior to his brother as a composer. This is demonstrated by this CD, supplementing Philipp Scharwenka’s (meagre) discography with his works for violin, viola and piano.

Weitere Bilder

modernTIMES Edition

ZIMMERMANN · DALLAPICCOLA · DUTILLEUX · GINASTERA · SZYMANOWSKI · ANTHEIL · VAUGHAN WILLIAMS · KABALEVSKY · KRENEK · HINDEMITH
DEUTSCHE STAATSPHILHARMONIE RHEINLAND-PFALZ · KARL-HEINZ STEFFENS

10CD+DVD C7337 PC: 07 UPC: 845221073378

CD 1:
BERND ALOIS ZIMMERMANN (1918-1970): Alagoana· Sinfonie in einem Satz · PhotoptosisStille und Umkehr
CD 2:
LUIGI DALLAPICCOLA (1904 – 1975): Partita per orchestra· Due Pezzi per orchestra· Piccola Musica Notturna·Variazioni per orchestra· Three Questions with Two Answers
CD 3:
HENRI DUTILLEUX (1916 – 2013): Symphony No. 1 · Deux sonnets de Jean Cassou · Métaboles
CD 4:
ALBERTO GINASTERA (1916-1983)· Obertura para el Fausto Criollo, op. 9 · Variaciones Concertantes, op. 23· Ollantay(A Symphonic Triptych) · Bomarzo op. 34  (1967) Opera Suite
CD 5:
KAROL SZYMANOWSKI (1882 – 1937): Concert Overture, op. 12· Slopiewnie, op. 46bis· Sinfonia Concertante op. 60· Nocturne and Tarantella, op. 28
CD 6:
GEORGE ANTHEIL (1900 – 1959) · A Jazz Symphony (Original Version, 1925)· Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1· Capital of The World - Suite · Archipelago „Rhumba“
CD 7:
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872 – 1958) · The Poisoned Kiss · Fantasia on Sussex Folk Tunes ·      Bucolic Suite · In The Fen Country· Three Portraits from 'The England of Elizabeth'
CD 8:
DMITRY KABALEVSKY (1904 – 1987): Overture Pathétique, op. 6· Violin Concerto, op. 48
Rhapsody on the Theme of the Song 'School Years', op. 75 · Vesnaop. 65· Colas Breugnon- Suite, op. 24
CD 9:
ERNST KRENEK: Potpourri op. 54· Seven Orchestra Pieces, op. 31· Symphonie "Pallas Athene" op. 137
Tricks and trifles, op. 101
CD 10:
PAUL HINDEMITH: Neues vom Tage(Ouvertüre) · Drei Gesänge für Sopran und Orchesterop. 9· Philharmonisches Konzert · Das Nusch-Nuschi, Tanzsuite op. 20
Bonus-DVD:Making of · Interviews
MARISOL MONTALVO, ARANTZA EZENARRO, MARIA ISABEL SEGARA, VALDA WILSON Sopran / soprano
PAUL ARMIN EDELMANN, Bariton / baritone
YURY REVICH, Violine / violin· MARTIN RUMMEL, Violoncello / cello
EWA KUPIEC, FRANK DUPREE, MAGDA AMARA,Klavier / piano
DEUTSCHE STAATSPHILHARMONIE RHEINLAND-PFALZ
KARL-HEINZ STEFFENS,Dirigent / conductor

Weitere Bilder

E. W. KORNGOLD

SURSUM CORDA FAIRYTALE PICTURES DER SCHNEEMANN DAS WUNDER DER HELIANE, Op. 20 DIE TOTE STADT, Op. 12 BABY SERENADE, Op. 24
KAREN ROBERTSON · STEPHEN GOULD · BRUCKNER ORCHESTER LINZ · CASPAR RICHTER

C7350 4CD-Box PC: 54 UPC: 845221073507

CD 1
SURSUM CORDA - Symphonic Overture, Op. 13 (1920)
MÄRCHENBILDER / FAIRYTALE PICTURES, Op. 3  (1910) · SCHAUSPIEL OUVERTÜRE, Op. 4 (1911)
DER SCHNEEMANN (1908-1909) · STRAUSSIANA (1953)· TALES OF STRAUSS, Op. 21(1927)
CD 2
DIE TOTE  STADT, Op. 12(1920) Prelude Act 2 · DAS WUNDER DER  HELIANE, Op. 20(1922-1927)
DER RING DES POLYKRATES Op. 7(1913) · DIE KATHRIN, Op. 28(1933-1937) · VIOLANTA Op.8  (1916)
DER STURM  (1913)  · CONCERTO FOR CELLO AND ORCHESTRA in C major, Op.37(1946)
CD 3
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, Op. 11  (1918/19) · BABY  SERENADE, Op. 24 (1928)
THEME AND VARIATIONS, Op. 42 (1953)
CD 4
TOMORROW, Op.  33  (1942) · EINFACHE LIEDER (SIMPLE SONGS), Op. 9(1911-16)
PRAYER, Op. 32 (1941)· ABSCHIEDSLIEDER (SONGS OF FAREWELL),  Op. 14(1920/21)

KAREN ROBERTSON, WENDY NIELSEN, Sopran / soprano
GIGI MITCHELL-VELASCO, Mezzosopran / mezzo-soprano · STEPHEN GOULD, Tenor / tenor
ZUILL BAILEY, Violoncello / cello · TIBOR PAZMANY, Orgel / organ · JOCHEM HOCHSTENBACH, Klavier / piano
KONZERTVEREINIGUNG LINZER THEATERCHOR · Georg Leopold (Einstudierung / Chorus Master)
FRAUENCHOR DES MOZARTCHORES LINZ· Wolfgang Mayrhofer (Einstudierung / Chorus Master)
BRUCKNER ORCHESTER LINZ  · CASPAR RICHTER(Dirigent / conductor)

Weitere Bilder

WALTER BRAUNFELS

Variations on an Old French Song for two pianos, Op. 46 · Little Pieces for piano four hands, Op. 24 · Bagatelles, Op. 5
Tatjana Blome · Holger Groschopp

C5361 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053615

The renaissance of Walter Braunfels’ music is well under way. Interest in his work is picking up. As part of that happy development, it only makes sense that once recordings of Braunfels’ most public works had come out, it is now the turn of the less conspicuous works to shine. Starting right here, for example, with Braunfels’ compositions for piano, piano four hands, and two pianos. Although his solo and quadrodexterous piano compositions do not take primacy in his œuvre, they are an important aspect of the composer Braunfels who came, after all, from the piano.

Weitere Bilder

NIKOLAI KAPUSTIN: SAXOPHONE CHAMBER MUSIC

Elisaveta Blumina · Peter Bruns
clair-obscur Saxophonquartett

C5369 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053691

Quintet for saxophone quartet and piano, Op. 89a
(authorized version of piano quintet op. 89 by Christoph Enzel)
Quartet for 4 saxophones, Op. 88a
(authorized version of string quartet op. 88)
Duo for alto saxophone and cello, Op. 99

At first glance, it might be surprising that a pianist born in the Soviet Republic of Ukraine, who went through the classical Russian school of pianists, should compose exclusively in the idiom of jazz. But jazz was more prevalent in the Soviet Union that might be supposed. Already in the 1930s, Oleg Ludstrem began appearing with his Big Band touring in the UDSSR. Later, Nikolai Kapustin worked for many years in this orchestra as a pianist and arranger. ‘What interests me most is the fusion between classical music and jazz, and between the classical form and the jazz idiom. Here, the classical portion has more weight for me. The jazz style is merely colour.’ (Nikolai Kapustin).

Weitere Bilder

LEONARD BERNSTEIN: MASS

Vojtěch Dyk · Wiener Singakademie · Opernschule der Wiener Staatsoper · Company of Music
ORF VIENNA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · DENNIS RUSSELL DAVIES

C5370 PC: PC 22 UPC: 845221053707

Few people had comparable charisma to him, few like him could blur the borders between ‘serious’ classical music and ‘entertaining’ popular music and few apart from him could find access to people of all generations like Bernstein. Living together and love instead of antagonism and hatred permeate his entire life’s work in words and notes. Many of the attributes mentioned apply to MASS, premiered in 1971. For the understanding of this unusual work, it is crucial to note that it is not really seen as a mass composition, but in keeping with Bernstein’s intentions as ‘a theatrical piece with the title ‘MASS’. So, it is perhaps the most audacious interpretation of the liturgical contents up to then and since then. The responses to the premiere were thoroughly ambivalent, as, apart from enthusiasm, there was also rejection on the part of conservativeminded circles. And the clearly conveyed message of peace was partly rejected since it could be understood not least as an unmistakable indictment of the Vietnam War still in progress.

Weitere Bilder

DOHNÁNYI: DER SCHLEIER DER PIERRETTE / THE VEIL OF PIERRETTE Op. 18

(First complete recording)
ORF VIENNA RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA · ARIANE MATIAKH

C5388 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053882

Who would assume today that after its premiere in 1910 Ernst von Dohnányi’s dance pantomime spread like a wildfire over the stages of the world. The ‘Wedding Waltz’ from Der Schleier der Pierrettecould regularly be heard on musical request programmes on the radio, enjoying similar popularity to the waltz sequence from Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier. Dohnanyi’s choice of the genre of pantomime was entirely in keeping with the spirit of the age that, following the large-scale, plot-laden ballets of late Romanticism, sought to find in pantomime a more intimate and more naturalistic form of expression. It may come as a surprise that the source for Dohnányi derived from none other than Arthur Schnitzler (1862–1931), one of the salient representatives of fin-de-siècle Austria. With this first complete recording again an important gap is closed in the knowledge of repertoire of this fascinating epochal time of musical history.

Weitere Bilder

FERRUCCIO BUSONI: TURANDOT // ARLECCHINO

RENE PAPE · LINDA PLECH · JOSEPH PROTSCHKA · CELINA LINDSLEY
RADIO-SINFONIE-ORCHESTER BERLIN · GERD ALBECHT

C5398 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053981

Busoni never came closer to his dream of Italian music than with that night on May 11 1917 of double performance in Zurich, which he calls himself "La Nuova Commedia dell' Arte" I ("Turandot") and II ("Arlecchino"). In the unusually short time from December 1916 to March 1917 Busoni reworked the already existing material to the Incidental Music of Gozzis "Turandot" into an opera. This happen 4 years before Puccini started to work on the same contend. "Arleccino", though in immediate neighbourhood to "Dr. Faust" looking almost like a secondary work, is perhaps the composer's actual key work. The speaking hero of his "theatralische Capriccio" represents a role model, which is at times more important to him than his aesthetic Faust, especially as the the World War increases.

Weitere Bilder

JOHANN JOSEPH ABERT: EKKEHARD

JONAS KAUFMANN · NYLA VAN INGEN · SUSANNE KELLING · CHRISTIAN GERHAHER
SWR RUNDFUNKORCHESTER KAISERSLAUTERN · PETER FALK

The fate of the lovesick monk Ekkehardunfolds against the historical background of the battle againstheathenismandtheHunnishinvasion -things which the broad and lavish grand-opera framework not only justifies but virtually demands.Abert set this very motley text to music in such a way that each of the various worlds and situations is given its appropriate expression, emulating "just about all the styles represented in opera today". However, his approach is not one of simple eclecticism; the entire work is set in the fully individual tonal language he had developed in his previous operas.The young tenor Jonas Kaufmann with his brilliant tembre had the best requirements to present the main-role in this nearly unknown opera. This production was one of the first recordings in general for him, now re-mastered and new released again.

C5392 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053929

Weitere Bilder

ZEMLINSKY: DER TRAUMGÖRGE

JANIS MARTIN · JOSEF PROTSCHKA · PAMELA COBURN
RADIO-SINFONIE-ORCHESTER FRANKFURT · GERD ALBECHT

C5395 PC: 21 UPC: 845221053950

"He was too modern for the conservatives, and he did not manage to catch up with the 'New
Music', despite his close personal relationship to Schönberg" – This brief characterization of Zemlinskys compositional style shows that the composer 'feil between two stools' even while he was alive. The opera was written at the suggestion of Gustav Mahler between 1903 and 1906. In 1907 he was engaged by Mahler as director of music at the Court Opera; at the same time, his third opera "Der Traumgörge" (Görge the Dreamer) was accepted for its first performance. Following Mahler's resignation, however, the opera was dropped by Mahler's successor, even though it had already been rehearsed, and it stayed untouched till the 1970s when the scores and parts have been found in the archive of Vienna State Opera. It's time that this recording – who was the first complete recordings – as well as Zemlinsky's masterpiece turn back to the awareness of the musical life.