Georg Schumann: Ruth

[Tapiola]

Another brand new release from CPO:

https://www.eclassical.com/labels/cpo/georg-schumann-ruth.html

I didn't know about the existence of this choral work. Looks quite enticing.

[eschiss1]

A Berlin performance with the same conductor from about 14 years ago may be on YouTube actually

[Alan Howe]

First published in 1908, according to IMSLP.

[Droosbury]

Presumably it's from this 2023 broadcast concert as discussed in May 2023 https://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php?topic=9077.0

I have the earlier broadcast version that I think I downloaded from our Downloads section several years ago. As I recall, not having heard it for a couple of years, it's a great big piece, as you'd imagine, very impressive. It's from his mature period (a couple of years after his very fine Second Symphony). A big, richly scored oratorio from the 1900s: what's not to like?

And if it really is from a 2023 recording, perhaps it's evidence that CPO are finally hearing our pleas for a quicker release of stuff they record? Yeah, I know: perhaps not ...

[Alan Howe]

As with Lachner's 4th, this is now available on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ji-YhrnVFQ&list=OLAK5uy_ncJnVSAXOtlug_Ada-xWc80I9ddw8NBck

[eschiss1]

Weirdly not at jpc yet.  The included pdf and docx files at eclassical don't include that page in most cpo program notes (and sometimes on their back covers) that say "recorded here on this date", from what I can tell, or we'd know for sure when this new disc was recorded... I agree the dates you give are most likely.

[eschiss1]

Oh hold on, not the docx file, the pdf files aren't the same- one of them is a 72-page booklet, and its last page confirms: recorded Berlin, Philharmonie 5 March 2023.

[Alan Howe]

Weirdly not at jpc yet

I think we're going to have to get used to this...

[eschiss1]

It -is- odd. Though Ruth is not available yet streaming, at least not over Amazon, as the Lachner is (though it too supposedly was released end of last month.) Weird. Is cpo still jpc's house label?

[Alan Howe]

Is cpo still jpc's house label?

Yes: jpc describes cpo as 'Das exklusive Klassiklabel aus dem Hause jpc' (= The exclusive classical music label from the company jpc).

[Alan Howe]

From a brief sampling of the end of the work in particular, the influences sound more along the Wagner-Strauss axis than, say, Mahler. I'm tempted to say Wagner-Strauss without the tunes, but that assessment is probably premature. Definitely toothsome, though.

[Alan Howe]

Here's the download:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9757874--georg-schumann-ruth

[Alan Howe]

From a longer listen to the beginning of the work, the clear influence is Wagner, specifically works such as Tristan und Isolde, Götterdämmerung and Parsifal. Now, I quite enjoy this sort of thing, but it has to be admitted that not much is particularly memorable, however gorgeous the writing is. Still, this is a major release of an important work in Georg Schumann's oeuvre - and it features some spectacular singing from the soloist cast as Ruth (whose identification is unclear from details published anywhere online).

[eschiss1]

From page 3 of the 72-page pdf from cpo that can be downloaded from eclassical: Marcelina Roman, sopran, Ruth.

Also, incidentally in regards thread, not vocalist identification- Cypressdome uploaded the vocal score to IMSLP a decade-plus ago - thanks!

(!! ... Wonder if they have the program notes to discs I bought downloads of from other sites, that I failed to download the notes to- always worth checking.)

[Alan Howe]

Marcelina Roman, sopran, Ruth

I thought it might be, but many thanks for the confirmation, Eric.