Wolff developed a personal style that allowed him to find the right tone for each text, from celebrated poets like Goethe and Hölderlin to contemporaries like Richard Dehmel.
Performer Biography
Klaus Simon, the pianist on this album, is also a conductor and arranger known for his chamber ensemble versions of Mahler's symphonies and songs.
Critical Reception
During his lifetime, Erich J. Wolff's songs were highly successful and admired, with famous singers vying to perform with him.
Composer Biography
Wolff was a contemporary and friend of Arnold Schoenberg and Alexander Zemlinsky, both notable composers of the early 20th century.
Compositional Technique
Wolff's compositional style was influenced by his extensive work as a Lieder accompanist, incorporating elements from Gustav Mahler, Hugo Wolf, Robert Schumann, and Richard Wagner.
Composer Biography
Erich J. Wolff, a Viennese composer, died prematurely at age 39 in 1913 from an ear infection in the United States, far from his native Austria.
Critical Reception
In a 1927 reference book, Erich J. Wolff ranked fourth among composers of popular art songs with 17 songs, outranking Zemlinsky and Schreker.
