Search - Alexander von Zemlinsky, Kölner Philharmoniker, James Conlon :: Zemlinsky - Der Traumgörge / Keubler, Racette, S. Anthony, Martinez, A. Schmidt, M. Volle, Kölner Philharmoniker, Conlon

Rescue from Oblivion

Dr. Christopher Coleman | HONG KONG | 03/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Zemlinsky was a contemporary of Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schoenberg; in fact Mahler was his mentor and Schoenberg his student. That Zemlinsky is not a well known figure in our time is not because of any lack of quality of his work, but probably is a result of some unfortunate circumstances in his own lifetime, such as were concerned with the production of this opera, combined with a relatively small output. DerTraumGorge (Gorge the Dreamer) was a much anticipated opera in Vienna in 1907--Mahler, who had commissioned the work, was to conduct its premiere with the leading singers of the day. The libretto had been published in advance of the performance, the score was being engraved, sets and costumes had been made, and suddenly Mahler resigned from his position as director. The politics of the day led the new director, Felix Weingartner, to cancel the production without considering the musical quality of the opera at all. The publisher of the score never released the work, other publishers were unwilling to purchase the work from them, and so Zemlinksky's opera was not performed in his lifetime. What a shame, as Der TraumGorge contains absolutely ravishing music--the equal of the best works of Mahler or Richard Strauss, and by far the best of Zemlinsky's music that I've heard. One of the highlights is Susan Anthony as the Princess, who sings totally ravishing music about the wonders of the world, encouraging the hero to stop dreaming and live.The libretto of Gorge the Dreamer is very complex, more an opportunity to explore philosophical ideas and psychological states rather than follow a storyline. Zemlinsky worked closely with the librettist, Leo Feld, but Gustav Mahler also exercised significant influence at various stages. To go into the plot in any detailed way would take more space than I have and probably still leave you puzzled. Essentially the story is the search by the protagonist, Gorge, for meaning in his life. Gorge is a young man who has mystic visions and believes that fantasy is everything. He seeks to make fairy-tales come alive, and others are both fascinated and repulsed by his ethereal character. By the end of the opera, Gorge has met his soulmate, Gertraud, and they have found a place in the world by doing good works, but at the cost of unfulfilled longings. The music of this opera is superb, with several absolutely glorious moments. Zemlinksy's work is very much part of the German-Austrian tradition, and so his operas are less traditionally tuneful than those of his Italian counterparts, but equally beautiful in their own way. Director James Conlon and EMI have made a real commitment to bringing us the works of this unjustly little-known composer, for which I am grateful. The cast in this recording with Patricia Racette, Iride Martinez, Andreas Schmidt, and Susan Anthony, are excellent. But the title role of Gorge, sung by tenor David Kuebler, I'm sorry to report, does not have the support it needs. Kuebler's tone quality is good and his command of the pitches unarguable, but too often he is covered by the orchestra. However, this is an opera with many good roles, so this fault does not detract too often from the performance. Certainly it is a terrific work, well worth repeated listening. Very highly recommended."

A work of introverted genius...

Eric D. Anderson | South Bend, IN United States | 04/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A gorgeous, painful work. While his more famous contemporary Richard Strauss was writing operas that were agressively extroverted, and sometimes a little on the messy side, Zemlinsky's operas plot the fears, pain, and awkwardness of the introvert in a musical language which is always beautifully tailored to the text--as concise as it is opulent. "Traumgorge" deserves to stand alongside "Der Zwerg" as an operatic achievement. Amusingly, when this opera was rescued from obscurity and given it premier in 1980, "Opera News" (a magazine which has often taken shots at late romantic operas) called it's libretto "infantile", and predicted that it would then continue it "archival existense". In 2001 the very same "Opera News" named this recording one of it's recordings of the year!Anyone who, as James Conlon has done, so courageously champions the works of a forgotten genius deserves gratitude. With so much great music hidden in obscurity, we need many more James Conlons who have the influence to breathe life into the operas of Franco Alfano, Riccardo Zandonai, Franz Schmidt, and countless others."

Der Traumgorge is Traumgorgeous!!!

Clinton D. Davis | Norman, OK United States | 12/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"OK, I'm a sucker for this sort of lush, decadent music; if you are too, then by all means get this recording. It honestly takes a while to start to pick out the leitmotivs, but once they open up, the whole work, which already glows and shimmers with light, will absolutely overwhelm you. James Conlon is to be commended for his courage to take up works like this that deserve to be heard and heard of. I won't go into long tirades, only to say that this is beautiful music, and would ask any lover of German Opera to take the plunge and see for yourself. I was really moved by this tale of a fairy-tale obsessed dreamer in search of one who would finally understand him, and you will be too. Get it!"