FRANZ SCHREKER (1878-1934)

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Christophorus oder "Die Vision einer Oper"

Opera in two acts with Prelude and Prolog

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Ahrens, Bernhard, Sabrowski, Chafin, Klein, Gebhardt, Schöpflin, Pauly, Arnold, Kieler Opernchor, Kieler Philharmoniker, Ulrich Windfuhr (cond.)

cpo 999-903-2 [2CDs]

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Kiel Opera Chorus (Jaume Miranda)

Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra/ Ulrich Windfuhr

 

CPO release the third in the line of Schreker operas with this world premiere recording of Christophorus, representing the last collaboration between CPO and the Kiel Opera during the Harms era.

 

Schreker, an Austrian composer who was renowned in his day for his progressiveness, composed Christophorus between 1924-7 towards the end of his composing life. During this period Schreker was facing increasing Nazi persecution for being a Jew, and it was largely due to this that Schreker’s reputation was destroyed and his works therefore not remembered. The opera on this disc suffered particularly badly as the planned 1931 premiere of Christophorus was cancelled because of the threat of Nazi demonstrations and the work subsequently wasn’t performed.

 

Having previously released Schreker’s operas Flammen and Das Spielwerk und die Prinzessen to great acclaim, CPO are now ensuring that this work isn’t neglected for any longer. Schreker’s works are always shaped by personal influence and this work is no exception. In fact it could be considered to be one of the most confessional of all his works with strong religious connotations throughout, concerned with art, self-realisation and ethics.

 

“It is the creative vision of a young, somewhat degenerate and weak, but very gifted artist, of a music student who has a great yearning for purely physical, brutal strength. His model is the grand, heroic figure of Christophorus (St. Christopher), the world adventurer whom the Saviour finally redeems in his old age.” Schreker on Christophorus

 

CPO 2cds 9999032

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