VIKTOR ULLMANN (1898-1944): Wendla im Garten, 6 Lieder, Op. 17, 5 Liebeslieder, Op. 26, Geistliche Lieder, Op. 20, Schwer ist’s, das Schöne zu lassen, 4 Sonette aus dem Portugiesischen, Op. 29, 6 Sonnets, Op. 34, Little Cakewalk, 2 chinesische Lieder, 3 Hölderlin Lieder, 2 Lieder der Tröstung, 3 jiddische Lieder, Op. 53.

Description: Everything here was written after 1936 and the last three listed above in the camp at Terezin. The aesthetic which predominates is that of Schoenberg and Berg - dissonant but not serial - the chromaticism used for expressive purpose and much use of large leaps in pitch for the singer. The exception proving the rule is the set of sonnets by the 16th century Frenchwoman where there is an exuberant use of late romantic color illustrating the lovelorn texts in a manner closer to Mahler or Zemlinsky. Luxurious packaging too - a 140-page bound book in regular CD shape. 2 CDs. German, French, Yiddish-English texts. Irena Troupová (soprano), Jan Dusek (piano).