Chor der Oper Graz, Grazer Philharmonische Orchester & Dirk Kaftan - Herzogenberg: Columbus, Op. 11 (2018)

Columbus: Dramatic Cantata for Soloists, Male Choir, Mixed Choir, and Full Orchestra, Op. 11, which celebrated its premiere at the Graz Music Society Concert Hall on 4 December 1870, is an extraordinary work within Heinrich von Herzogenberg's oeuvre as a whole and differs greatly from many other compositions by him. After the successful premiere a review appeared in the Grazer Tagespost that is all the more interesting insofar as it was penned by Friedrich Hausegger, a member of the so-called 'progressive camp'. If we think merely of Herzogenberg as the Brahms emulator of his middle and later creative phases, then Hausegger's words correct our one-sided picture of the composer: 'We were most pleasantly surprised by his Columbus. With it the composer proved not only that he can assemble little elements, perhaps ones formed in imitation, to produce a well-formed whole but also that he can draw on impressive resources, that he is able to master a significant subject with a bold and sure hand'.

Track List:

CD1
01. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: I. Seht ihr das Schiff, das schwache, schwanke
02. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: II. Interlude
03. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: III. Der Himmel lastet auf dem Meere
04. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: IV. Nun merket auf, ihr Männer!
05. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: V. Wir wollen leben!
06. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: VI. Wie wildes Wogenrollen
07. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: VII. Wär's wahr, was er verspricht?
08. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: VIII. So Tötet Mich!
09. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 1: IX. Rohe Gewalt!

CD2
01. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: I. Wie blinkt mit feuergleichem Schäumen
02. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: II. So ruhig bist du, so gesammelt?
03. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: III. Genug, Fernando, sei gefasst!
04. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: IV. Lasst die Becher blinken
05. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: V. Der Morgen graut, nun habet Acht!
06. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: VI. Es steigt des Morgens sanfte Helle
07. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: VII. Land!
08. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: VIII. Columbus…! Hier Sieh Uns Liegen!
09. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: IX. Steht auf! Wer, so wie ich gesegnet ward
10. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: X. Du großer Gott, dich preisen wir!
11. Columbus, Op. 11, Pt. 2: XI. O heil'ger Morgen!