This album was recorded from October 10-12, 2017, at the Festeburgkirche in Frankfurt, with Johann Steinecker of Studioworks handling recording, editing, and mastering.
Performer Biography
Baritone Johannes Martin Kränzle, who performs on this album, debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 2014 and at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London in 2016.
Historical Context
Maurice Ravel's "Deux mélodies hébraïques" were composed in 1914, just one month before the outbreak of World War I, a period of increasing antisemitism in France.
Album & Artwork
The album's title, "Hie wird kein zweites Mal gelebt!" (No one lives a second time!), reflects a central theme of human finiteness and the afterlife explored through the selected works.
Interpretation
Johannes Martin Kränzle, the baritone, finds that his life experience and age continually allow him to interpret Frank Martin's "Jedermann Monologues" in new ways.
Composition History
Richard Rudolf Klein's "Zwölf Lieder nach alten jiddischen Weisen" were composed in just a few days during the 1983 Christmas holidays, inspired by a text collection called "Lieder aus dem Ghetto."
Composer's Artistic Vision
Richard Rudolf Klein aimed for simplicity, clarity, and naturalness in his music, using clear forms, melodic tension, and transparent writing, often in modal tonalities.
