The Suleika poems, set to music by Mendelssohn on this album, were long attributed to Goethe but were actually written by Marianne von Willemer, a poet and actress.
Composer Biography
Hugo Wolf, a composer featured on this album, wrote over 300 Lieder, 51 of which were settings of Goethe's poems.
Historical Context
In the 19th century, it was unthinkable for a woman to earn a living by composing, which denied many women, like Josephine Lang and Johanna Kinkel, artistic careers.
Album & Artwork
The album features lesser-known Goethe Lieder adapted for alto and guitar, a concept born from the performers' Frankfurt musical background.
Composer Biography
Felix Mendelssohn, a composer on this album, was introduced to Goethe by Carl Friedrich Zelter, Goethe's friend, when Mendelssohn was just twelve years old.
Performer Biography
Christopher Brandt, the guitarist on this recording, is a professor of guitar at the Academy of Music and the Performing Arts in Frankfurt and has won several awards, including at the German Music Competition.
Performer Biography
Katharina Magiera, the alto on this recording, shifted her focus from piano to voice during her studies and won the Mendelssohn Competition in 2009.
