Zemlinsky: A Florentine Tragedy

Donnie Ray Albert (Performer), Alexander von Zemlinsky (Composer), Cologne Philharmonic (Orchestra), Deborah Voigt (Performer), David Kuebler (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Donnie Ray Albert, Deborah Voigt, David Kuebler
• Orchestra: Cologne Philharmonic
• Composer: Alexander von Zemlinsky
• Audio CD (November 13, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics Imports
• ASIN: B00000630A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #336,780 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Feurig stürmend"

2. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "So langsam, Weib?"

3. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Ich heiße Guido Bardi."

4. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Wo ist mein Bündel?"

5. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Wackrer Simone, genug."

6. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Bianca, sag, stünde nicht dies kostbar edle Kleid..."

7. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Wie, wenn ich die weiße Bianca forderte?"

8. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Was gibt es Neus, mein Prinz?"

9. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Wie er gleich einem schalen Krämer spricht!"

10. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Genug! Zur Freude reif ist dese Nacht"

11. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Was meint der Fleck hier auf dem Tuch?"

12. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Holdsel'ge Bianca, der schale Krämer langweilt mich"

13. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Simone, jetzt muß ich nach Hause gehn!'

14. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Ei, welch' ein Schwert!"

15. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Bianca, hol mein Schwert!"

16. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Narr, nimm mir vom Hals deine Würgefinger!"

17. Eine Florentinische Tragödie, opera, Op. 16: "Und jetzt du dir!"

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is one of those typically decadent, fin-de-siècle, sexual-depravity operas that seem to be making a comeback, maybe because we've reached our own fin-de-siecle but have little to offer in the sexual-depravity department. Anyway, here's the plot: married couple is having a slight performance problem, so she looks for entertainment elsewhere. Hubby catches her in the act, murders her boyfriend, and the two find themselves so turned on by the murder that their lust for each other is rekindled. End of opera. What could be more fun than that? The music is luscious, the performance passionate. -- David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gorgeous, sinister, visceral short from Zemlinsky, January 18, 2003

By	Eric D. Anderson (South Bend, IN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Eine Florentinische Tragodie" is one of Zemlinsky's greatest masterpieces, and one of his most frequently performed operas, usually paired with his 1922 opera, "Der Zwerg" (They've entered the repertory in Europe--American companies don't seem to have discovered them yet). From it's opening bars, the score seeths with visceral energy, at times ecstatic, at others, sinister. The orchestration is an endless feast of opulent orchestral timbres. At only 55 minutes, it swoops towards it's "end with a twist" with terrible efficiency. In that short hour, it explores the themes of betrayal, cruelty, and love reclaimed. The closing is especially amazing in it's originality. Most famously, as Simone strangles the begging Guido Bardi, a solo violin glissando slides into the depths, as if representing his departing spirit. Suddenly, the darkness of the score dissolves into beautiful light, as Simone's act of strength inspires new love and adiration in Bianca, his unfaithful wife. As with most of the Conlon's Zemlinsky recordings, both performance and sound are great.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music Worth Reviving, August 18, 2003

By A Customer

Having worked on this piece under the direction of maestro Conlon with the Aspen Festival Orchestra, I truly came to realize how much depth there is to this work. The orchestration, textures, harmonic and melodic structuring, and libretto are all equally amazing. Zemlinsky really is one of the underestimated geniuses of recent times, and James Conlon is an absolute master of this music. No doubt in my mind that this recording ought to belong in all serious classical collections!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A CONCISE MASTERPIECE, August 31, 2008

By	Alfredo R. Villanueva (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO ATTEND A CONCERT PERFORMANCE OF THIS OPERA AND "THE DWARF" IN NY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, MY INTRODUCTION TO ZEMLINSKY'S OPERATIC GENIUS. THIS RECORDING MORE THAN DOES HIM JUSTICE. JAMES CONLON HAS RECORDED BOTH OPERAS; A PITY THAT EMI HAS NOT CHOSEN TO PACKAGE THEM TOGETHER. DONNI RAY ALBERT SHINES IN THE CENTRAL ROLE OF SIMONE. VOIGHT AND KUEBLER SOAR AS THE LOVERS. A WARNING: THERE ARE NO LINER NOTES OR LIBRETTO.