Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari, born to a German painter and an Italian mother, was deeply influenced by both German seriousness and Italian cheerfulness, spending his life between Munich and Venice.
Composition History
Wolf-Ferrari's opera Das Himmelskleid ('The Garment of Heaven') is based on the French fairy tale 'The Donkey Skin' by Charles Perrault, which tells a parable of a young princess and the development of a human soul.
Compositional Technique
Musically, Wolf-Ferrari's Das Himmelskleid ('The Garment of Heaven') is described as an idealistic and romantic work, showcasing his amazing sensitivity to sound and color.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolf-Ferrari considered Das Himmelskleid ('The Garment of Heaven') a 'work of stillness, born of stillness and calling for stillness,' which he believed was needed in a time of great disturbance.
Notable Performances
Das Himmelskleid ('The Garment of Heaven') was revived at the Theater Hagen in 1995, receiving a positive reception from the public and press, which led to the idea for this recording.
Recording & Production
This recording of Das Himmelskleid ('The Garment of Heaven') was made in January 1996 at the Stadthalle Hagen, Germany, and was previously released on Marco Polo 8.223261-63.
Critical Reception
Despite a brilliant premiere performance in 1927, Das Himmelskleid ('The Garment of Heaven') was not a great success, with critics finding fault with its 'weight of ideas' and lack of dramatic tension.
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