Hans Sommer: Orchestral Songs

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The RundfunkSinfonieorchester Berlin sounds rich and glossy, with four strong soloists. Yet I was repeatedly left with the sensation of a composer trying too hard. — BBC Music Magazine, February 2023, 3 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 5 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

Release Date: 4th Nov 2022
Catalogue No: PTC5187023
Label: Pentatone
Length: 70 minutes

Presto Recordings of the Year

Finalist 2022
Presto Editor's Choice

November 2022
Opus Klassik Awards

2023

Nominated - Solo Vocal
International Classical Music Awards

2024

Nominated - Premiere Recordings

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Sommer, H: Freisinn

Work length2:01

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Benjamin Appl (baritone)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Der König von Thule

Work length4:16

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Benjamin Appl (baritone)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Mignons Heimath

Work length4:25

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Anke Vondung (mezzo-soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Beherzigung I

Work length3:19

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Mojca Erdmann (soprano), Anke Vondung (mezzo-soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

I. Ach, was soll der Mensch

Track length1:29

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Feiger Gedanken

Track length1:50

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Sommer, H: Rastlose Liebe

Work length3:16

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Mojca Erdmann (soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Im Sturme, Op. 4 No. 3

Work length6:22

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Anke Vondung (mezzo-soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Sir Aethelbert, Op. 11 No. 4

Work length8:10

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Benjamin Appl (baritone)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Lorelei, Op. 13

Work length11:01

$5.00

$6.50

$8.75

Mojca Erdmann (soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Lore im Nachen

Track length2:28

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Röslein und Schmetterling

Track length2:20

$1.00

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Lore und der Junker

Track length0:59

$1.00

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Im Walde

Track length2:12

$1.00

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Auf dem Felsen

Track length3:02

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$1.75

Sommer, H: Nachts in der Kajüte

Work length4:18

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Mauro Peter (tenor)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Wandrers Nachtlied

Work length5:18

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Benjamin Appl (baritone)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

I. Der du von dem Himmel bist

Track length2:45

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Über allen Gipfeln ist Ruh

Track length2:33

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Sommer, H: Erinnerung

Work length1:52

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Mojca Erdmann (soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Im Dorfe blüht die Linde, Op. 2 No. 2

Work length2:58

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Anke Vondung (mezzo-soprano)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

Sommer, H: Hunold Singuf, Op. 4

Work length12:46

$4.00

$5.20

$7.00

Mojca Erdmann (soprano), Anke Vondung (mezzo-soprano), Mauro Peter (tenor), Benjamin Appl (baritone)
Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra
Guillermo García Calvo

No. 1, Zum Gruss

Track length1:35

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

No. 6, Sommerspiel

Track length3:06

$1.00

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No. 21, Lockung

Track length4:32

$1.00

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$1.75

No. 31, Istud Vinum

Track length3:33

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

About
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About

Pentatone presents a new album full of world-premiere recordings of orchestral songs by Hans Sommer, sung by an excellent quartet of soloists – Mojca Erdmann, Anke Vondung, Mauro Peter and Benjamin Appl – together with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin under the baton of Guillermo García Calvo. Sommer was a Liszt student whose operas were performed and praised by Richard Strauss, but sunk into relative oblivion due to his unusual career path and independence from major publishers. The songs were discovered recently and can finally be presented to the world. Focusing mostly on Goethe poetry, combining high Romanticism with folk styles, Sommer’s songs are colourfully orchestrated, harmonically audacious, and often highly dramatic and evocative. This album release, commemorating Sommer’s 100-year death anniversary, sheds light on a fascinating chapter in music history, and will hopefully contribute to a renaissance of this unsung hero. The Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin has a vast Pentatone discography, including Wagner’s complete operas, symphonic works by Mahler and Strauss, as well as multiple concerto recordings with renowned soloists. Mojca Erdmann, Anke Vondung, Mauro Peter, Benjamin Appl and Guillermo García Calvo all make their Pentatone debut.

Reviews

February 2023

The RundfunkSinfonieorchester Berlin sounds rich and glossy, with four strong soloists. Yet I was repeatedly left with the sensation of a composer trying too hard.

February 2023

Calvo conducts his Berlin orchestra with a smile. The Pentatone engineers have found a lively (but never overbearing) balance between orchestra and four notably youthful-sounding singers, all of whom acquit themselves with warmth and style..a lovely introduction to a thoroughly likeable composer.

November 2022

The centenary of Sommer's death this year has prompted a modest but very welcome revival of interest in his songs...A certain kinship with his friend Richard Strauss can be keenly felt in the orchestration and vocal lines alike (try 'Kennst du das Land' for size), although there are echoes of Mahler's Wunderhorn settings in the four folksy songs from Hunold Singuf, and even a whiff of Wagnerian Magic Fire in the setting of 'Rastlose Liebe'.

Hans Sommer: Orchestral Songs

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