Oskar Fried, who was Jewish and a socialist, emigrated to the Soviet Union in 1934 to escape Nazi persecution, where he continued his conducting career.
Composer Biography
Gustav Mahler, the renowned composer, was deeply impressed by Oskar Fried's conducting of his Second Symphony in 1905, leading to a friendship between them.
Composition History
Oskar Fried's 'Fantasie über Motive aus Hänsel und Gretel' was written during his apprenticeship with Engelbert Humperdinck, the composer of the opera 'Hänsel und Gretel'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
In 'Die Auswanderer', Oskar Fried used melodramatic elements to make a socio-critical statement, departing from the genre's traditional use for supernatural themes.
Performer Biography
Salome Kammer, the speaker on this album, has a diverse repertoire spanning avant-garde singing, classical melodrama, jazz, and Broadway songs, and has premiered many new music works.
Composition History
After Oskar Fried's death, the handwritten score of 'Die Auswanderer' was held in KGB archives for decades, only being rediscovered by musicologist Christoph Flamm much later.
Composer Biography
Oskar Fried, the composer and conductor, started his career as a touring minstrel, dog trainer, clown, and stable boy in a circus.
