Strauss, Nono, Wagner

This recording presents three different, utterly contrasting responses to the quest for expression and the solution to the old problem of how to merge text and music into a unity. The common theme linking these compositions – "The Passion and Pains of Love" – has been wrested from the texts of these choral works: they are poetic declarations of love, descriptions of nature with erotic and intimate imagery, and poems that speak of unfulfilled yearning and breaking hearts. Their poetic quality opens a range of expression every bit as varied as the three musical settings they stimulated. A spectacular program of choral and ensemble virtuosity featuring music from the late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century. Rare recordings feature the amazing arrangements of Clytus Gottwald. The selections contrast Wagner’s Romantic but forward-looking compositional style with the Late Romantic development of Mahler and Richard Strauss, and the serial technique of avant-garde! composer Luigi Nono. The SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart and Director Marcus Creed are among the most highly respected virtuoso ensembles specializing in the performance of new music for choir.