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| Marc Neikrug and Viktor Ullmann Release a New Album When on May 8, 1945 Germany capitulated unconditionally, the world started to learn about the Nazis' concentration camps and was shocked by the most unutterable crimes in history. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Germany's liberation, young German-Jewish conductor Daniel Grossmann presents two rarely heard works from the 20th century -- both using the spoken word and both somehow connected with the shock of Auschwitz. Jochen Striebeck who is a well-known actor in Germany brings a stifling reality to the German texts. New York-born Marc Neikrug is not only an esteemed pianist who has performed duo recitals with violinist Pinchas Zukerman for more than 25 years but also a world-renowned composer. "Through Roses", a musical drama about a classical violinist who survived Auschwitz, is his most important work and has been translated into 11 languages. It has received hundreds of performances worldwide and was the subject of several films. Composer Viktor Ullmann was a bandmaster at the German Theatre in Prague in the 1920s. In 1939 his compositions were banned by the Nazis because of his being Jewish. Deported to Theresienstadt in 1942, Ullmann became an active part of its musical life working as a pianist, conductor, composer, critic and organizer. "Die Weise von Liebe und Tod", based on a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke, was Ullmann's last work before he was deported to Auschwitz in 1944 where he was killed. Born in 1978 in Munich, conductor Daniel Grossmann is known particularly for performing chamber versions of symphonic music. His performances of "Through Roses" received highest praise: "A torn-apart, yet not abstract music made of many classical quotes and oscillating sounds, an ocean of memories, thoughts, nightmares... A shattering piece of musical theatre... shocking liveliness, the greatest possible credibility and nearness... Of all passages the softest hurt the most. Drillingly questioning but fragile and intimate poetry" (Süddeutsche Zeitung). write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |