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Blech: Complete Orchestral Works & Songs / Gornik, Ward, Aachen Symphony Orchestra
Capriccio

Blech: Complete Orchestral Works & Songs / Gornik, Ward, Aachen Symphony Orchestra

$21.99

Details

Composer
Leo Blech
Artist
Sonja Gornik, Sinfonieorchester Aachen
Format
CD
Label
Capriccio
Released
Aug 05, 2022
Catalog #
C5481
UPC
845221054810

About

The closest Leo Blech (1880–1959) gets to fame these days is being mistaken for Ernest Bloch. Actually, some might still remember his seminal work as an opera conductor in Berlin, where he worked for almost half a century (except for the Nazi years, when he lived in exile, avoiding a far worse fate). But his compositions – either operas or involving the voice in some other way – have disappeared from the repertoire. What a shame, because his music is, while less probing than that of his contemporary Bloch’s, very much charming in the style of, say, Humperdinck or Rheinberger. This release constitutes the first part of an upcoming celebration of Blech by Capriccio, which will later release a 2-CD recording of his opera The Alpine King and the Misanthrope.

REVIEW:

In the times we are living through, the music of Leo Blech recorded for this CD could be characterized as eco-music. The majority of the works describe nature in an idyllic, idealized state, as we wish it back only too gladly.

Now Leo Blech had to contend with quite different problems during his lifetime. As a celebrated conductor with Jewish roots, he was ostracized by the Nazis in the mid-1930s, was forced into retirement and went into exile.

For Leo Blech, music and nature were undoubtedly a refuge to a peaceful world. This is reflected in his compositions, beginning on this recording with Waldwanderung, an atmospheric contemplation of nature interpreted by the Aachen Symphony Orchestra under Christopher Ward with fine texture, lyrical wind choir and delicate string sounds.

Overall, we are dealing with extremely sensitive interpretations. Especially in the works with vocal instrumentation, Christopher Ward lets the orchestra sing and the great potential of the wonderful melodies come to full fruition.

The symphonic poem Die Nonne, on the other hand, is gripping and highly dramatic. The historical and emotional connection with Leo Blech, who was born in Aachen, repeatedly drives the entire ensemble to committed interpretations. In the end, the result is a coherent and noble homage to the composer Leo Blech

-- Pizzicato

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 Waldwanderung, Op. 8, No. 1 13:05
    Track
    1
    Title
    Waldwanderung, Op. 8, No. 1
    Duration
    13:05
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  2. 2 Von den Englein 09:21
    Track
    2
    Title
    Von den Englein
    Duration
    09:21
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Ensemble
    Aachen Opera Chorus, Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  3. 3 Trost in der Natur, Op. 7, No. 3 12:53
    Track
    3
    Title
    Trost in der Natur, Op. 7, No. 3
    Duration
    12:53
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  4. 4 Ein kleines Lied, Op. 25, No. 1 (version for voice and orchestra) 01:06
    Track
    4
    Title
    Ein kleines Lied, Op. 25, No. 1 (version for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    01:06
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  5. 5 Winterlied im Herbst, Op. 25, No. 2 (version for voice and orchestra) 02:44
    Track
    5
    Title
    Winterlied im Herbst, Op. 25, No. 2 (version for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  6. 6 Tintenheinz und Plätscherlottchen, Op. 24, No. 3 (version for voice and orchestra) 01:13
    Track
    6
    Title
    Tintenheinz und Plätscherlottchen, Op. 24, No. 3 (version for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    01:13
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  7. 7 Veilchen, Op. 27, No. 1 (version for voice and orchestra) 01:41
    Track
    7
    Title
    Veilchen, Op. 27, No. 1 (version for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  8. 8 Nur eine kleine Geige, Op. 27, No. 2 (version for voice and orchestra) 01:30
    Track
    8
    Title
    Nur eine kleine Geige, Op. 27, No. 2 (version for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  9. 9 Heimkehr vom Feste, Op. 21, No. 7 (version for voice and orchestra) 02:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    Heimkehr vom Feste, Op. 21, No. 7 (version for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    02:17
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  10. 10 Wie ist doch die Erde so schön, Op. 21, No. 8 (arr. B.A. Zimmermann for voice and orchestra) 02:51
    Track
    10
    Title
    Wie ist doch die Erde so schön, Op. 21, No. 8 (arr. B.A. Zimmermann for voice and orchestra)
    Duration
    02:51
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Performer
    Sonja Gornik
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  11. 11 Sommernacht 08:42
    Track
    11
    Title
    Sommernacht
    Duration
    08:42
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Ensemble
    Aachen Opera Chorus, Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward
  12. 12 Die Nonne, Op. 6 17:18
    Track
    12
    Title
    Die Nonne, Op. 6
    Duration
    17:18
    Composer
    Leo Blech
    Ensemble
    Aachen Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Christopher Ward