Heinrich Sutermeister: Orchestral Works, Volume Two
Heinrich Sutermeister (1910–95) belongs to the generation of Swiss composers after Bloch, Honegger, Martin and Schoeck. His operatic version of Romeo and Juliet soon spread his reputation far afield, and conductors as prominent as Böhm, Karajan and Sawallisch championed his works, although since his death his music has not had the attention it deserves. These four big-boned works – a powerful setting of Boethius, an extract from Romeo und Julia and two sets of moving love-letters from genuine historical figures in Renaissance, Baroque and Enlightenment Germany and Switzerland – attest to the acuity of his ear in balancing voice and large orchestra and confirm his instinct for drama.
Juliane Banse, soprano (1–9, 17–22)
Benjamin Bruns, tenor (10–16)
Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz
Rainer Held, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
- I The Path of Truth
- II Temptations
- III Violence
- IV Love
- V Glory
- VI The Madness of Time
- VII The Consolation of Philosophy
- VIII Prayer
- ‘Ich reise weit’ for soprano and string orchestra
- I Der Leidenschaftliche
- II Der Naturphilosoph
- III Der Liebeswahnsinnige
- IV Der Bürger als Brautigam
- V Der Bürger als Ehemann
- VI Liebe und Tod
- VII Der Kavalier
- I Die Verlobung
- II Die Hochzeit
- III Der Tod
- IV Die Trennung
- V Capriccio
- VI Cherubino a cavallo
Consolatio philosophiae. Dramatic Scene for High Voice and Orchestra (1977)
Romeo and Julia (1940)
Sieben Liebesbriefe for tenor and orchestra (1935)
Sechs Liebesbriefe for soprano and orchestra (1979)
FIRST RECORDINGS
MusicWeb International :
‘And indeed this is another very impressive disc of powerful music receiving polished performances in a fine recording accompanied by excellent documentation. […]
For anyone interested in 20th century Germanic songs with orchestra this will prove to be an attractive and rewarding discovery.’
—Nick Barnard, MusicWeb International