Release Date: 05 October 2009
Label: ECM Records
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 028947669951
Description
The outstanding German baritone Christian Gerhaher, winner of a BBC Music Magazine Award in 2009 and rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after interpreters of Lieder today, makes his ECM debut with the Rosamunde Quartet in the very personal, romantic Notturno by Othmar Schoeck (1886-1957).
Although generally acknowledged as one of the leading composers of his native Switzerland, Schoeck has never acquired a stable reputation outside the German-speaking world. This is partly due to his strong focus on the sung word: His output comprises eight operas, some 400 songs and a couple of smaller instrumental works. Moreover, his essentially late-romantic style was considered démodé after the Second World War when the avant-garde was arguing for a more rational and emotionally restricted approach to composition.
"Here is a composer who deserves rediscovery," says Heinz Holliger. "His works often come across to me as immensely personal, intense utterances that are both touching and moving - perhaps none more so than the wonderful Notturno op. 47." Composed by Schoek between 1931 and 1933, it served as a personal confession after an unhappy extra-marital love affair. Its five movements set verses by German 19th-century-poet Nikolaus Lenau and by the great Swiss writer Gottfried Keller. The highly differentiated, insightful interpretation by Christian Gerhaher - one of the most distinguished young German "Lied" singers and a former disciple of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau - and the Rosamunde Quartet offers a strong plea for Schoeck's expressive music and sheds an exciting light on his artistic preoccupation with the dark abysses of human existence.
Personnel: Christian Gerhaher baritone, Rosamunde Quartet: Andreas Reiner (violin), Diane Pascal (violin), Helmut Nicolai (viola), Anja Lechner (cello)
Tracklisting
Vijay Iyer; Wadada Leo Smith
Anouar Brahem; Anja Lechner; Django Bates; Dave Holland
Patrick Demenga; Latvian State Academic Choir; Youth Choir Kamer; Riga Cathedral Boys Choir; Andres
Nicolas Masson; Colin Vallon; Patrice Moret; Lionel Friedli
Various artists
Yuval Cohen Quartet
Thomas Stronen; Craig Taborn; Chris Potter; Sinikka Langeland; Jorge Rossy
Stephan Micus
St. Florianer Sangerknaben; Ars Antiqua Austria; Gunar Letzbor
La Colombina; Schola Antiqua
Patrick Demenga; Latvian State Academic Choir; Youth Choir Kamer; Riga Cathedral Boys Choir; Andres
Chor "Astrolabium", Tomasz Drozdek T.ETNO, Kinga Litowska
Monika Plachta, Chor Mieszany Katedry Wawelskiej, Andrzej Korzeniowski, Pawel Wajrak, Katarzyna Luk
Roberta Mameli, Adam Kruzel, Polski Chor Kameralny, Sinfonia Varsovia, Jan Lukaszewski
English National Opera Orchestra / Martyn Brabbins
Capella Warmiensis Restituta, Ingrida Gapova, Kacper Szelazek, Aleksander Rewinski, Piotr Pieron
