Search - Donnie Ray Albert, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Cologne Philharmonic :: Zemlinsky: A Florentine Tragedy

Donnie Ray Albert, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Cologne Philharmonic
Zemlinsky: A Florentine Tragedy
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (17) - Disc #1
1. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Feurig st?rmend'
2. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'So langsam, Weib?'
3. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Ich hei?e Guido Bardi.'
4. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Wo ist mein B?ndel?'
5. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Wackrer Simone, genug.'
6. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Bianca, sag, st?nde nicht dies kostbar edle Kleid...'
7. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Wie, wenn ich die wei?e Bianca forderte?'
8. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Was gibt es Neus, mein Prinz?'
9. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Wie er gleich einem schalen Kr?mer spricht!'
10. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Genug! Zur Freude reif ist dese Nacht'
11. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Was meint der Fleck hier auf dem Tuch?'
12. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Holdsel'ge Bianca, der schale Kr?mer langweilt mich'
13. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Simone, jetzt mu? ich nach Hause gehn!'
14. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Ei, welch' ein Schwert!'
15. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Bianca, hol mein Schwert!'
16. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Narr, nimm mir vom Hals deine W?rgefinger!'
17. Eine Florentinische Trag?die, opera, Op. 16: 'Und jetzt du dir!'

CD Details

All Artists: Donnie Ray Albert, Alexander von Zemlinsky, Cologne Philharmonic, Deborah Voigt, David Kuebler
Title: Zemlinsky: A Florentine Tragedy
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI Classics Imports
Release Date: 11/13/2001
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera & Classical Vocal
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 724355647221

Synopsis

Amazon.com

This is one of those typically decadent, fin-de-siècle, sexual-depravity operas that seem to be making a comeback, maybe because we've reached our own fin-de-siecle but have little to offer in the sexual-depravity department. Anyway, here's the plot: married couple is having a slight performance problem, so she looks for entertainment elsewhere. Hubby catches her in the act, murders her boyfriend, and the two find themselves so turned on by the murder that their lust for each other is rekindled. End of opera. What could be more fun than that? The music is luscious, the performance passionate. -- David Hurwitz

CD Reviews

A gorgeous, sinister, visceral short from Zemlinsky

Eric D. Anderson | South Bend, IN United States | 01/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Eine Florentinische Tragodie" is one of Zemlinsky's greatest masterpieces, and one of his most frequently performed operas, usually paired with his 1922 opera, "Der Zwerg" (They've entered the repertory in Europe--American companies don't seem to have discovered them yet). From it's opening bars, the score seeths with visceral energy, at times ecstatic, at others, sinister. The orchestration is an endless feast of opulent orchestral timbres. At only 55 minutes, it swoops towards it's "end with a twist" with terrible efficiency. In that short hour, it explores the themes of betrayal, cruelty, and love reclaimed. The closing is especially amazing in it's originality. Most famously, as Simone strangles the begging Guido Bardi, a solo violin glissando slides into the depths, as if representing his departing spirit. Suddenly, the darkness of the score dissolves into beautiful light, as Simone's act of strength inspires new love and adiration in Bianca, his unfaithful wife. As with most of the Conlon's Zemlinsky recordings, both performance and sound are great."

Music Worth Reviving

Eric D. Anderson | 08/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having worked on this piece under the direction of maestro Conlon with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, I truly came to realize how much depth there is to this work. The orchestration, textures, harmonic and melodic structuring, and libretto are all equally amazing. Zemlinsky really is one of the underestimated geniuses of recent times, and James Conlon is an absolute master of this music. No doubt in my mind that this recording ought to belong in all serious classical collections!"