Fingerlos/El Mouissi - Max Bruch: Lieder

The first piece composed by Max Bruch during his child prodigy years was a song, and the Five Songs op. 97 number among the last creations with which he closed the files on his long artist�s life shortly after World War I. This fact alone would suffice to make us understand the great value attached to song � whether of vocal or instrumental nature � in the oeuvre of this lifelong Romanticist. From the peppy male chorus to the full-length colossal oratorio, from the Loreley to the immortal cantilenas of his Violin Concerto No.1, Scottish Fantasy, and Kol Nidrei, he sang out his songs to his heart�s content while revealing lyrical qualities that come to light in special measure in his collections of solo songs distributed over the entire course of his career � a fact underscored by the Austrian baritone and his piano partner Sascha El Mouissi on this new and so far absolutely unique anthology. Along with delightful tidbits from all of Bruch�s compositional periods, we are presenting the five songs from Paul Heyse�s novella Siechentrost for One to Four Voice Parts, Violin, and Piano op. 54. Max Bruch�s musical setting produced not only an original piece of chamber music but also an intimate look at his self-understanding and his goals. Behind their creator�s blustery fa�ade there was also a man of tender, vulnerable character!