Schulhoff / Goldschmidt: Orchestral Works

Goldschmidt, Berthold, Schulhoff, Erwin

Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Jurowski, Michail

CPO 999323

Berthold Goldschmidt and Erwin Schulhoff were two German composers whose fate illustrates with horrible clarity the extent to which Nazi rule impacted artist's lives during an entire generation. Goldschmidt, who emigrated from Germany to England in 1935, fortunately survived and enjoyed success until his death in 1996. Erwin Schulhoff died in the Würzburg Concentration Camp in 1942. If Goldschmidt's Comedy of Errors Overture may be termed a carefree and youthful stroke of genius, then his Greek Suite is a gloomy document of the time it was written in. The melodies derived by Goldschmidt from the thirty Mélodies populaires de Grèce at the time might have symbolized Greek as well as English opposition to the Axis powers. Schulhoff's ballet mystery based on Ogelala, an ancient Mexican original, dates from the same period as Goldschmidt's genial comic overture. A score displaying more magnificent colours could simply not be imagined. These works, in this combination, clearly demonstrate the great richness of Germany's music during the 1920s and the subsequent loss brought about by barbarism.

Works:

• Goldschmidt, B: Comedy of Errors: Overture
• Goldschmidt, B: Greek Suite
• Schulhoff: Ogelala

CD x 1

CPO

30.08.18

761203932320