Eberhard Klemmstein „Traumlieder“

This CD contains all the songs for baritone and piano composed by Eberhard Klemmstein between 1999 and 2020. Baritone Christian Hilz, to whom the ‘Nachtgesänge’ (Night Songs) are dedicated, premiered many of the composer's works, including orchestral songs, a cantata and six chansons accompanied by piano, brass quintet and string orchestra. He sang one of the leading roles in Klemmstein's first opera, Alice im Konservenland (Alice in Canned Land), which premiered at the Stadttheater Fürth in 2000.

Dorian Keilhack has also championed Klemmstein's music on numerous occasions as a pianist and conductor. He conducted the premiere and subsequent performances of the second opera, Der Achte Tag (The Eighth Day), at the Markgrafentheater in Erlangen. Last year, Thorofon released a recording of the Sixth Symphony with the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra, and Dorian Keilhack recently conducted the recording of the Second Violin Concerto with the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra and soloist Ingolf Turban.

Stylistically, Klemmstein belongs to the largely tonal camp. Critics praise his ‘good, concise themes’ and highly effective music that ‘cannot be pigeonholed’ and thus defies categorisation.

The recording of the Sixth Symphony fills a gap on the musical map. Four movements, most of them rich in movement, reveal considerable potential, thanks to the distinctive psychological subtlety of the timbre and instrumentation. Klemmstein's personal style, which comes to the fore here, cultivates a balanced relationship between concise themes and their artful treatment.

The ERLANGER NACHRICHTEN wrote about the songs: ‘It became clear how masterfully Klemmstein succeeded in bringing his interpretation of the poetry of such diverse poets to the fore. With his powerful musical language, which combines tradition and modernity in an outstanding way, he succeeded in conveying the content and meaning to the audience.’