Lortzing - Der Wildschiitz (Highlights) - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Lortzing Der Wildschutz / Composer Albert Lortzing / Artist Peter Schreier tenor / Edith Mathis soprano / Rundfunkchor Berlin / Staatskapelle Berlin / Bernhard Klee conductor / 2 CD. Albert Lortzing was familiar with the stage from his earliest years, for both his parents were actors, and by the age of 18 he too was engaged as both an actor and singer. His career was anything but stable, however; a competent composer, he divided his time between precarious kapellmeister positions - including a stint at the Theater an der Wien - and having to revert to acting in order to support himself. He died impoverished and unhappy in 1851, a few months after securing his third kapellmeister post. Today he is best remembered for his Singspiel Der Wildschütz, a masterpiece of writing and whose libretto the composer himself fashioned from Kotzebue's comedy Der Rehbock, oder Die schuldlosen Schuld bewußten, which had been published earlier in 1816. Kotzebue's work is a whirlwind of character disguise, a piece whose titillating coquetry touches firmly on frivolity but manages to evade full-scale immorality, and Lortzing also added small touches of his own to the story - including the character of the majordomo Pancratius, whose role has traditionally been performed in Saxon dialect. The enduring appeal of Der Wildschütz, however, clearly rests on the score, with Lortzing's lightness of touch, his memorable and catchy tunes, and the vivid characterization of comic situations lending his music a charm that appears as fresh as ever. An ardent admirer of Mozart, it is in Der Wildschütz, more than in any other of his operas, that Lortzing succeeded in writing at least a few numbers that are reminiscent of the great composer. This applies particularly to his carefully wrought ensemble passages, which greatly outweigh the arias in terms of number and of which the much-admired Billiards Sc

The 3Js' new studio album was produced entirely by the band this time. In the run-up to album of de Aard Van Het Beest, the Volendammers released the second single from the album InchWat Je MistInch. The line that has already been carefully mapped out with the single released last year InchDe ToekomstInch, the first with the talented Robin in the ranks, is continued on the new album. InchWe decided from the first moment to make our most positive record ever,Inch says Dulles. A spontaneous musical idea by Robin resulted in this spring-fresh song, in which the sound of 3JS is combined with gospel and hip-hop influences. The 3JS therefore asked SO! Gospel Choir to sing along to the song.The album is available as a limited and numbered edition of 500 pieces on colored (transparent & green mixed) vinyl.

The Lombardini Quartet is not only named after the Venetian violin virtuoso and composer Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen, but now also recorded her versatile InchSei quartettiInch op.3 from 1769. Lombardini Sirmen was one of the few women to realize a career as a professional musician in the 18th century and, according to sources, the first woman to compose string quartets, at a time when this genre was still extremely young and in the formal experimental stage. The interpreter's highest credo is always the speaking play and the uncovering of all affects in the music, of the finest emotions, which often change so quickly in the quartets - a veritable rollercoaster of feelings. All the quartets are in two movements and enchant with their variety of colors and richness of form InchLike a walk through a blossoming spring meadow It is worthwhile to turn one's gaze very carefully to the many beauties that nature offers to the left and right. We felt the same way about Lombardini's music many little flowers by the wayside to discover, some large and recognizable at first glance, some very small and easy to overlook. It is fragile music that reveals a rich inner life on closer inspection,Inch says Elisabeth Wiesbauer of the Lombardini Quartet.