Some 40 years ago, following a decades-long precipitous drop in reputation and performance frequency of his once-heralded 19th c. Grand Operas, a Giacomo Meyerbeer revival or reassessment of him and these works took hold, which also arose with his other œuvre, including his 83 art songs, 25 of which are presented here by soprano Andrea Chudak and German-Kazakh pianist and conductor Andreas Schulz. With a knack for lilting melodies and the occasional rousing tune, Meyerbeer was equally at home with a fast gallop tempo, sentimental romances as well as little waltzes.
This double album brings together 38 songs by Giacomo Meyerbeer, making it the most comprehensive collection of such recordings to date. Best known for his operas, Giacomo Meyerbeer is remembered as perhaps the most successful stage composer of the nineteenth century. His grand opera style was achieved by merging German orchestra style with Italian vocal tradition. Besides his operas, he wrote around 50 other songs, many of which are gathered on this release. Performing these works are soprano Andrea Chudak, tenor Julian Rohde, and bass Tobias Hagge, joined by pianist Alexandra Rossman.
