Vocal music by Karl Mikuli

[eschiss1]

This disc from Dux, announced for November 3* and containing several song cycles and a baritone and string quartet cantata by Carl Mikuli (all seem to be world premiere recordings; by the way the track listing at Presto appears to be a little misleading, separating out and listing Matthisson and Uhland as composers rather than text authors for two of the works of Op.16, as though op.16 were a collaborative effort by three composers- which I don't think it is),  -- looks interesting, even if, at 45 minutes, a mite brief.

Karol Mikuli (1819-97) was a Chopin pupil, born in what is now Ukraine (birth surname Bsdikian, and of Armenian family, I gather), whose compositions, especially his vocal music, are not very well-known - hopefully this recording is well-enough performed and recorded to give an opportunity to allow one to make some judgments.

*Available to stream through Presto right now, apparently. (I wonder if Amazon Music will have it soon? I'll check )
**I realize the promotional material saying "not inferior to Schubert ..." will annoy. So far as I know, Mikuli not having written that, all I can say is that it's still refreshing to have such a call-back to the often equally ridiculous advertising copy of the 19th century, and I'll leave it at that.

[Christopher]

FYI - a bit of discussion (and youtube links to) his piano music too, here - https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php/topic,7387.msg77921.html#msg77921

[Alan Howe]

Nice songs, but not well sung, I'm afraid. That would rule the recording out for me - there just has to be more vocal allure to justify a whole CD.

[Christopher]

Funnily enough, with this recent thread in mind, I noticed a plaque in his memory on the wall of the courtyard of the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv just five days ago. I had no idea of his connection to the city but it turns out that he was the director of the Galician Music Society and professor at the GMS Conservatory there.  He is buried in the nearby Lychakiv Cemetery. There's a long biography here - https://musical-world.com.ua/en/artists/mikuli-karol-2/

Picture of the plaque here - https://www.shukach.com/ru/node/59289

And of his grave here - https://lviv-lychakiv.com.ua/en/photogallery/famous-personalities/308-karol-mikuli