Hans Pfitzner - Das Christelflein – Kurt Eichhorn, Choir and Orchestra of the Bavarian Radio

 

Release Date: January 23, 2001 Label: Orfeo D'or Number of discs: 2 Composer: Hans Pfitzner Performer: Kurt Eichhorn cd info/ buy

Review:

Hans Pfitzner is known mostly for his impressive early 20th century opera, "Palestrina", his cantata "Von Deutsche Seele", and his songs. The release by Orfeo d'Or of his lighter, "Christmas" opera, "Das Christelflein", reveals another, very lyrical and rustic side of this composer. "Das Christelflein" was written in 1917, in the middle of World War I. But the opera is anything but dark or turgid. Pfitzner has considerably lightened his orchestration here; the textures are clean and bright, even incorporating German folk tunes and could be easily compared to Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel”. The vocalism is of a high order, with Helen Donath and Claes Ahnsjö as standouts. The sound is very good.

 

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