Anna Prohaska, the soprano on this album, discovered Frank Martin's Maria-Triptychon through her grandfather, Viennese conductor Felix Prohaska, who was a close friend of the work's dedicatees.
Composer Biography
Frank Martin, the Swiss composer of the Maria-Triptychon, remained separate from the ideological conflicts of new music after World War II, preferring to study German Baroque and French Impressionist music.
Album & Artwork
The album's title, "Maria Mater Meretrix" (Mary, Mother and Magdalene), explores the three classical female archetypes: the Saint, the Mother, and the Whore.
Composition History
Frank Martin's Maria-Triptychon, central to this album, was initially a single Magnificat composed in 1967, later expanded with an Ave Maria and Stabat Mater to create a triptych encompassing Mary's life.
Interpretation
The album's program uses miniature forms as 'bookmarks' to refresh the listener's thoughts and ears between the diverse musical pieces.
Interpretation
The program for this album was conceived by singer Anna Prohaska and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja as an expression of their friendship and an exploration of their shared experiences as women in the music business.
Compositional Technique
The performers value Frank Martin's music for its 'transitory sense of harmony' and its balance between tonality and atonality, combined with a personal expressive style.
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