The German Jewish composer Giacomo Meyerbeer contributed to Christian organizations and, as here, set Christian (to varying degrees) texts, but none of this was enough to stop the suppression of his works as anti-Semitism mounted in 19th century Europe; Wagner, and then Hitler, put the kibosh on his reputation, which is finally rising again. The music on this album is entirely obscure, and some of it has only recently been rediscovered. Most of it is in German, with French and Latin also represented; all the works are for ...
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The German Jewish composer Giacomo Meyerbeer contributed to Christian organizations and, as here, set Christian (to varying degrees) texts, but none of this was enough to stop the suppression of his works as anti-Semitism mounted in 19th century Europe; Wagner, and then Hitler, put the kibosh on his reputation, which is finally rising again. The music on this album is entirely obscure, and some of it has only recently been rediscovered. Most of it is in German, with French and Latin also represented; all the works are for solo soprano, arranged here for a small string orchestra with piano or organ. It's a good candidate for "find of the month," for it shows Meyerbeer's originality from a very early age. Sample one of the works from Meyerbeer's teenage years, such as the excerpt from the oratorio Gott und die Natur, and you'll hear music with a fine dramatic sense that doesn't sound like anything else from the period. Several pieces use stark statements of the vocal line accompanied by unison...
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