Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau & Schreker: Der Geburtstag der Infantin

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This warmly recorded version not only goes to the top of the tree as the most satisfying account of Zemlinsky’s score in the current catalogue, but also trumps its closest rivals in offering... — BBC Music Magazine, July 2021, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 30th Apr 2021
Catalogue No: ONYX4197
Label: Onyx
Length: 78 minutes

Gramophone Magazine

Critics' Choice 2021
Record Review

1st May 2021

Record of the Week
Presto Recording of the Week

21st May 2021
Gramophone Magazine

July 2021

Editor's Choice
Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2021
Record Review

Records of the Year 2021
Gramophone Awards

2022

Shortlisted - Orchestral

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Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau

Work length46:25

Album only

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko

I. Sehr mäßig bewegt

Track length15:34

Album only

II. Sehr bewegt, rauschend

Track length17:09

Album only

III. Sehr gedehnt, mit schmerzvollem Ausdruck

Track length13:42

$2.00

$2.80

$3.50

Schreker: Der Geburtstag der Infantin (The Birthday of the Infanta)

Work length31:55

$12.00

$16.80

$21.00

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko

I. Die Infantin im Kreise ihrer Gespielinnen

Track length3:38

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

II. Aufzug und Gratulation der Knaben

Track length0:52

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

III. Der Stierkampf

Track length1:21

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

IV. Die Infantin

Track length2:46

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

V. Die Marionetten

Track length2:29

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

VI. Menuett der Tänzerknaben der Kirche von Nuestra Señora del Pilaz

Track length2:08

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

VII. Mit dem Winde im Frühling

Track length2:43

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Der Geburtstag der Infantin, Die drei Tänze des Zwerges: VIII. Der Tanz in blauen Sandalen über das Korn

Track length2:06

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

Der Geburtstag der Infantin, Die drei Tänze des Zwerges: IX. Der Tanz im roten Gewand im Herbst

Track length1:28

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

X. Die Rose der Infantin

Track length4:19

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

XI. Der Spiegel und der Zwerg

Track length3:14

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

XII. Der Tod des Zwergs und Schlussszene

Track length4:51

$1.00

$1.40

$1.75

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Recording of the Week, Vasily Petrenko conducts Russian and Austrian symphonies and orchestral works

21st May 2021

A double bill from the Russian-British conductor, with the Oslo Philharmonic performing symphonies by Prokofiev and Myaskovsky, and tone poems by Zemlinsky and Schreker with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Following on from their critically acclaimed albums of Stravinsky, Elgar and Tchaikovsky, the awardwinning team of Vasily Petrenko and the RLPO turn to Zemlinsky and Schreker.

Premiered in the same concert as his brother-inlaw Schoenberg’s ‘Pelleas und Melisande’ in 1905, Zemlinsky’s Die Seejungfrau (after Hans Christian Andersen) was almost ignored by the reviewers.

Considered too conservative for the progressives and too progressive for the conservatives, Zemlinsky struggled to overcome the negative reviews of this masterpiece and withdrew it in the immediate aftermath of the premiere.

Vasily Petrenko for this recording uses the original version of the score which restores the ‘bei der Meerhexe’ episode to the 2nd movement.

Schreker’s Dance Pantomime ‘Der Guburtstag der Infantine’ (story by Oscar Wilde) was given its premiere in 1908 and was his first big success. One of the most progressive of the Viennese composers of this period, Schreker’s star would sadly wane, aided by the rise of anti-Semitism and the Nazis. Stripped of his official posts, he died in 1934 of a stroke.

Reviews

July 2021

This warmly recorded version not only goes to the top of the tree as the most satisfying account of Zemlinsky’s score in the current catalogue, but also trumps its closest rivals in offering the most apposite and brilliantly performed coupling of Franz Schreker’s colourful ballet score Der Geburtstag der Infantin.

September/October 2021

I applaud Petrenko and the orchestra for delivering outstanding readings of these well-matched historical mementos. For listeners devoted to Die Seejungfrau, this account could easily be a first choice. It comes in vivid, lifelike sound that brings out the vibrancy of Zemlinsky’s orchestration. Better performances aren’t likely to come our way for a long time.

July 2021

Petrenko’s interpretation [of the Schreker] is a pleasure from first to last. The excellent playing of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic brings each of the episodes vividly to life.

21st May 2021

There are many moments for strings and winds to shine as they play an innocent melody for the Infanta, and there's an exquisite section featuring a solo violin for the dance of the puppets. It's not all sugar-coated sweetness, though, and Petrenko makes sure to bring out the darker moments.

20th May 2021

The RLPO’s performances of both works perhaps do lack the last degree of tonal finesse that these scores ideally deserve, but the pairing is a bold, imaginative one, which ought to win more admirers for two composers whose music has never quite made it into the orchestral mainstream.

Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau & Schreker: Der Geburtstag der Infantin

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Recording of the Week, Vasily Petrenko conducts Russian and Austrian symphonies and orchestral works

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