Hugo Wolf - Wolf: Orchesterlieder & Penthesilea (LP)

Dive into the captivating world of Hugo Wolf's orchestral songs and his dramatic masterpiece "Penthesilea" with this exquisite album. Released in 2022, this collection showcases the depth and richness of Wolf's compositional genius, featuring a stunning array of orchestral lieder and a powerful dramatic work. The album opens with a selection of songs from Wolf's "Mörike-Lieder" and "Goethe-Lieder," each meticulously arranged for voice and orchestra, offering a profound exploration of the human condition through the poetry of Eduard Mörike and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The standout pieces include "Schlafendes Jesuskind," "Prometheus," and the hauntingly beautiful "An den Schlaf."

The album also features the complete orchestral version of Wolf's dramatic work "Penthesilea," a gripping retelling of the mythical queen's tragic tale. This three-part orchestral suite, performed by the Jenaer Philharmonie under the baton of Simon Gaudenz, is a tour de force of orchestration and dramatic intensity. The suite includes "Aufbruch der Amazonen nach Troja," "Der Traum Penthesileas vom Rosenfest," and the climactic "Kämpfe, Leidenschaften, Wahnsinn, Vernichtung," each movement showcasing Wolf's mastery of orchestral color and dramatic narrative.

Soprano Benjamin Appl delivers a tour-de-force performance, his voice soaring above the lush orchestration with remarkable clarity and expressiveness. The Jenaer Philharmonie, conducted by Simon Gaudenz, provides a rich and nuanced accompaniment, bringing out the full depth and complexity of Wolf's scores. This album is a testament to the enduring power of Hugo Wolf's music, offering a compelling journey through his orchestral songs and dramatic works. With a duration of just under an hour, it's a perfect introduction to Wolf's orchestral repertoire, or a welcome addition to the collection of any classical music enthusiast.