Künneke: Piano Concerto, Serenade & Zigeunerweisen

Featuring

Ernst Theis
Oliver Triendl
Münchner Rundfunkorchester
Eduard Künneke

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Recording & Production

The Munich Radio Orchestra, founded in 1952, has released numerous complete recordings of music-theater pieces and high-quality singer portraits on CD, maintaining a constant presence in the phonograph market.

Performer Biography

Pianist Oliver Triendl has gained a reputation for his versatility, with around 100 CD recordings showcasing his commitment to rarely played classical and romantic repertoire, as well as contemporary music.

Historical Context

Künneke's Piano Concerto No. 1 in A-flat major, Op. 36, composed in 1935, navigated the fine line between forbidden "Negro music" and the few jazz elements permitted during the Nazi era.

Composer Biography

Eduard Künneke, the composer, was born on Mozart's birthday and grew up near the Dutch border, far from operetta's centers.

Compositional Technique

Künneke was the first composer to use saxophones in an operetta orchestra and, in 1929, combined a jazz band and a classical orchestra in his Dance Suite, structured as a baroque concerto grosso.

Critical Reception

Künneke's operetta "Die grossse Sänderin" (1935) was dropped from the Berlin Opera repertoire after only eight performances because he refused to separate from his "half-Jewish" wife.