About the album
VIENNA 1913
The years 1900-1914 were perhaps the most thrilling period in European music history: the cradle of what we now call musical Modernism. This was the time when the great “avant-garde schools” took shape: in Paris, Berlin, Saint Petersburg, and particularly in Vienna. Music branched out into a multitude of aesthetics, styles, and genres, as we can see in in the variety of terms that attempt to describe art in that period: Impressionism, Expressionism, Art Nouveau, Neo-Classicism, Foklorism, Late Romanticism, Symbolism, and others.
Our programme selection for this CD focuses on two works written in Vienna in 1913 – the “summer of the century”, as author Florian Illies calls a pivotal year that put an end to the long 19th century and introduced the somber 20th century.
The two works are Alban Berg’s Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano op. 5 and Egon Kornauth’s Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. 1913 was the year of several “scandalous” premieres: Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder, Berg’s Altenberglieder, Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, and others that were less scandalous: Debussy’s Images pour Orchestre, Max Reger’s Isle of the Dead, Sibelius’s Luonnotar, de Falla’s La vida breve, and Richard Strauss‘s Festliches Präludium.
(Excerpt from the liner notes by Ludwig Holtmeier)
WIEN 1913
Die Jahre zwischen 1900 und 1914 gehören vielleicht zu den spannendsten der europäischen Musikgeschichte. In
ihnen bildet sich heraus, was man heute gemeinhin als musikalische Moderne bezeichnet. Es ist die Zeit, in der die
großen europäischen „Schulen“ der musikalischen Avantgarde in Paris, Berlin, St. Petersburg und ganz besonders in
Wien Gestalt annehmen und in der sich die Musik in eine Vielfalt von Ästhetiken, Stilen und Genres auffächert, die
sich in der Menge jener Begriffe widerspiegelt, mit denen wir heute versuchen, der Kunst dieser Epoche habhaft zu
werden: Impressionismus, Expressionismus, Jugendstil, Neoklassizismus, Folklorismus, Spätromantik/Nachromantik,
Symbolismus etc.
Die Programmauswahl dieser CD ist um zwei Werke herum gruppiert, die im Jahr 1913 in Wien entstanden sind, in
diesem „Sommer des Jahrhunderts“ (Florian Illies), der das lange 19. Jahrhundert beendet und das dunkle 20.
Jahrhundert einläutet: Alban Bergs Vier Stücke für Klarinette und Klavier op. 5 und Egon Kornauths Sonate für
Klarinette und Klavier. Es ist das Jahr skandalöser Uraufführungen: Schönbergs Gurrelieder, Bergs Altenberglieder,
Stravinskys Le Sacre du Printemps, aber auch der weniger skandalösen von Debussys Images pour Orchestre, Regers
Toteninsel, Sibelius Luonnotar, de Fallas La vida breve und Strauss‘ Festlichem Präludium.
(Auszug aus dem Booklettext von Ludwig Holtmeier)
Artist(s)
KILIAN HEROLD CLARINET
Widely known as a multifaceted chamber musician, a renowned clarinet soloist, and a high-profile
orchestra musician, Kilian Herold is one of the most interesting and versatile clarinetists of his generation.
After having held the post of Principal Clarinet at the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and
the SWR Symphony Orchestra, he was appointed Clarinet Professor at Freiburg University of Music
in 2016.
Herold is frequently invited to guest with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Bavarian Radio
Symphony Orchestra, and can be regularly seen and heard at a number of international chamber
music and contemporary music festivals.
www.kilianherold.com
HANSJACOB STAEMMLER PIANO
Hansjacob Staemmler has performed as chamber musician in a number of different formations
with renowned colleagues in concert series and festivals in Germany, Europe, and the Far East. His
multifaceted talent is featured on several CD releases: Staemmler has performed and recorded a
wide spectrum of repertoire ranging from the Classical period (including historical keyboards) to the
music of our times, leading to frequent collaborations with well-known composers.
Having won First
Prize in the duo category at the 2009 German National Music Competition, Staemmler now teaches
chamber music at Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts.
www.hansjacob-staemmler.com