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Cover: Bernd Alois Zimmermann – Violin Concerto · Photoptosis · Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony

Bernd Alois Zimmermann

Violin Concerto

Photoptosis · Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony

Leila Josefowicz, violin
Anu Komsi, soprano
Jeni Packalen, alto
Hilary Summers, contsalto
Peter Tantsits, tenor
Ville Rusanen, baritone
Juha Uusitalo, bass
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, conductor

ODE 1325-2 · CD · February 2019

Buy / listen

Track listing

12 tracks · 73:23

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Bernd Alois Zimmermann

  1. Violin Concerto (1950) 17:30
  2. 1 I. Sonata 4:14
  3. 2 II. Fantasia 8:55
  4. 3 III. Rondo 4:21
  5. 4 Photoptosis (1968), Prélude für großes Orchester 14:04
  6. Die Soldaten, Vocal Symphony (1957-63), Vokal-Sinfonie für 6 Gesangs-Solisten 41:49
  7. 5 I. Preludio 5:39
  8. 6 II. Erster Akt, Introduzione 0:38
  9. 7 III. Erster Akt, 3. Szene (Ricercari I): Meine göttliche Mademoiselle… (Desportes) 8:34
  10. 8 IV. Erster Akt, 5. Szene (Nocturno I): Ach, Herr Jesus! (Marie) 4:47
  11. 9 Das herz ist mir so schwer (Marie) 4:55
  12. 10 V. Zweiter Akt (Intermezzo) 4:56
  13. 11 Zweiter Akt, 2. Szene (Capriccio, Corale e Ciacona II): Was fehlt Ihnen, mein goldnes Mariel… (Desportes) 5:36
  14. 12 Kindlein mein (Weseners alte Mutter) 6:44

About this recording

This new release by the award-winning Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu is dedicated to the music of Bernd Alois Zimmermann (1918–1970), a leading figure in the music of post-Second World War Germany. This album includes a rendering of the composer’s magnificent violin concerto featuring star violinist Leila Josefowicz, orchestral score Photoptosis, as well as the first CD recording of Die Soldaten Vocal Symphony based on an opera that is widely considered as one of the greatest German operas of the 20th century.

Zimmermann wrote his Die Soldaten opera, one of his keyworks, during the 1950s and 60s. The premiere of the opera was cancelled, and upon hearing the claim that the opera would be ‘impossible’ to perform, the composer adapted parts of the opera into a 40-minute vocal symphony suitable for concert performance. This work, filled with power and drama, is much more than a description of the apocalypse of modern war, and deserves its rightful place alongside the operas of Alban Berg.

Zimmerman’s Violin Concerto is a relatively early work in the composer’s oeuvre. It was premiered in 1950 but has suffered much neglect. The influence of Schoenberg, Hindemith, Bartók, Stravinsky and Prokofiev are visible in this work which we might consider to manifest echoes of war.

Photoptosis (1968), ‘Incidence of Light’, is among Zimmermann’s final orchestral pieces. Inspired by a painting created by Yves Klein for the Gelsenkirchen music theatre, this work includes quotations by Scriabin, Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner, among others. Yet, this “Prélude”, as described by the composer, is not a collage, but a study in orchestral sonority and light.

Conductor Hannu Lintu recently won the Gramophone Award for his recording of the Bartók Violin Concertos (ODE 1317-2) together with Christian Tetzlaff and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Recordings by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hannu Lintu on Ondine have gathered excellent reviews in the international press. Two of their recordings were nominated for Gramophone Awards in 2018. One of them, including orchestral works and songs by Jean Sibelius (ODE 1289-5) also won an ICMA Award in January 2018.

Features

Sleeve notes in English and Finnish. Vocal Symphony libretto text in original German and in English translation.

The artists

Leila Josefowicz

Leila Josefowicz’s passionate advocacy of contemporary music for the violin is reflected in her diverse programmes and enthusiasm to perform new works. In 2008, she was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, joining prominent scientists, writers and musicians who have made unique contributions to contemporary life.

Full biography

Anu Komsi

Finnish soprano Anu Komsi has been praised for her versatile musicianship and her dynamic coloratura voice. Equally at home on both opera and concert stages, she regularly appears throughout Europe and the United States.

Full biography

Ville Rusanen

First prize winner of the 2004 Lappeenranta Solo Voice Competition, Finnish baritone Ville Rusanen began his musical studies as an instrumentalist, playing the double bass at Kuopio Conservatory where he also studied singing under Pertti Rusanen. He moved to the Sibelius Academy to study singing in 1999 where he was taught by Jorma Hynninen, and then later by Päivi Nisula.

Full biography

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