Gerhart von Westerman - His Music and His Life

 

He was born in Latvia's capital Riga on September 19, 1894 and passed away in Berlin on February 14, 1963.

Gerhart von Westerman was initially influenced by Strauss and the impressionist composers (as heard in his Two Ballads for baritone and orchestra), and later began to include modernist elements in his compositions, such as in the Intermezzi for orchestra * Devoted a large part of his work to journalism, radio, the writing of books, the direction of the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra and the Berlin festival weeks * The Divertimento, a free, abundantly expressive suite for orchestra, was performed for the first time by the Berlin Philharmonic under Furtwängler in October 1944 * His melodic patterns are of a characteristic, personal kind, sometimes with a Slavic ring * Von Westerman's originality, though rooted in late Romanticism, are shown by his original, refined treatment of harmony and his surprising sense of colour * His great opera Promethean Fantasy, to which he himself wrote the libretto, shifts between classical antiquity and the present to unfold its theme of hubris that has brought both suffering and love to mankind.

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari - His Music and His Life

The Italian Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari was born in Venice on January 12, 1876 as son of the German painter August Wolf. Ermanno's mother was Italian.

From 1893-1895, Wolf-Ferrari studied in Munich with Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901). During 1902-1907, he became Conservatory Principal in Venice. In 1903, 1906 and 1909, Wolf-Ferrari brought out his most successful operas. "Die neugierigen Frauen" ("The curious women"), "Die vier Grobiane" ("The four rude guys") and "Susanne's Geheimnis" (Susan's Secret") with Italian "buffo-style" and wonderful intermission numbers. "Buffo" means "gust of wind" but also "bright, cheerful and comical".

Powerful sounds can be found in "Schmuck der Madonna" (1911, "Madonna's Juwelries"), but Wolf-Ferrari never reached the sonority i.e. of Giacomo Puccini. Most of all following operas remained as flops.

The instrumental and chamber music works have been mostly treated as second-rate - but in my opinion very much unjustly.

Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari passed away in Venice on January 21, 1948.

Carl Michael Ziehrer - His Music and His Life

Carl Michael Ziehrer was born in Vienna on May 2, 1843 and became a student of Simon Sechter (1788-1867), a Military bandmaster and conductor of the "Hoch- und Deutschmeister Regiments" and in 1908, the Court Ball Music Director".

Ziehrer lived long enough to experience the Austrian monarchy decline. His life ended up in poverty. Out of his 600 (!) dance compositions remained only a few, such as "Weaner Madlin" ("Viennese Girls").

Out of his 22 operettas only one remained as uncertain success: "Die Landstreicher" ("The Hobos", 1899).

Carl Michael Ziehrer passed away in Vienna on November 14, 1922.

Riccardo Zandonai: Concerto Romantico (1919)

Riccardo Zandonai - His Music and His Life

The Italian Riccardo Zandonai was born on May 28, 1883 in Saaco, Trentino and became a student of Pietro Mascagni at the Pesaro Conservatory.

Zandonai, like other opera composers of his generation, made to his business to build up a succession and emulation, for example Giacomo Puccini.

Zadonai was very much influenced by the German Richard Strauss.

Being important was "Francesca da Rimini" (1914) as well as sprightly symphonic musical poetries, chroal works and movie themes.

Riccardo Zandonai passed away in Pesaro on June 5, 1944.

HANS - HEINZ NISSEN SINGT " DER MÖNCH ZU PISA " (+playlist)

Karl Loewe - His Music and His Life

The German Karl Loewe was born in Loebejuen near Halle on November 30, 1796 as 12th child of a simple school teacher.

Loewe was able to study because of King Jerome's generous scholarship. In Stettin, Loewe became musical director. In this position, he was at work for 46 (!) years.

Loewe composed chamber music and five operas. "The Three Wishes" premiered in Berlin in 1834. Loewe's oratorios are popular until today - "Jerusalem's Destruction" (1829), "Hiob" (1848) or "Lazarus' Wake" (1863).

Among 150 compositions, Karl Loewe's ballads rmained as incredible and convincing performances, i.e. "Die Glocken von Speyer" (The Bells from Speyer), "Mr. Oluf" or "The Fall into a Ruin Mill".

Loewe passed away in Kiel on April 20, 1869.