Frank Martin: Der Cornet

On this CD:

1. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 1 "Reiten"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

2. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 2, "Der kleine Marquis"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

3. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 3, "Jemand erzählt von seiner Mutter"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

4. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 4, "Nachtfeuer"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

5. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 5, "Das Heer"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

6. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 6, "Ein Tag durch den Tross"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

7. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 7, "Spork"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

8. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 8, "Der Schrei"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

9. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 9, "Der Brief"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

10. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 10, "Das Schloss"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

11. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 11, "Rast"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

12. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 12, "Das Fest"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

13. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 13, "Und einer steht..."
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

14. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 14, "Bist du die Nacht?"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

15. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 15, "Hast du vergessen...?"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

16. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 16, "Die Turmstube"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

17. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 17, "Im Vorsaal"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

18. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 18, "War ein Fenster offen"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

19. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 19, "Ist das der Morgen?"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

20. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 20, "Aber die Fahne ist nicht dabei"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

21. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 21, "Die Fahne"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

22. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 22, "Der Tod"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

23. Der Cornet, for alto voice & orchestra, No. 23, "Im nächsten Früjahr"
Composed by Frank Martin
Performed by Philippe Huttenlocher

Customer Reviews:

An Electrifying Live Version of a 20th Century Masterpiece.......2000-07-01

Neglected in the LP era, Frank Martin's magnificent narrative song-cycle for solo voice and chamber orchestra, Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke (Ensign Christoph Rilke's Song of Love and Death) has come into its own on CD. Like most of Martin's music, it's been fortunate in its interpreters: Marjana Lipovsek (Orfeo 164881; conducted by Lothar Zagrosek) and Jard van Nes (Philips 442 535-2; Reinbert de Leeuw) both give superb readings, and each matches the description of the singer for whom Martin wrote the piece, Elisabeth Gehri: "a warm and velvety contralto voice of exceptional range and agility" (Maria Martin). Then there is Brigitte Balleys (Cascavelle VEL 1020; Jesus Lopez Cobos), lighter in timbre. Now comes this live concert version from 1984, and familiar though I am with the piece, I listened to this riveting performance with a totally fresh sense of awe at the work's power and beauty. Those who know Der Cornet from other recordings may be surprised that the soloist is a man; actually, the published score specifies only "low voice." Having a male voice narrate Rilke's epic tale of a young nobleman's experience of war, love and death brings out new and fascinating aspects of Martin's subtle yet sweeping setting of the text. And although the difference in voice type means that in one sense this recording stands apart from the others, there are two big plusses: first, Huttenlocher and Dunand have a long history as Martin interpreters, and second, Huttenlocher's German is the most idiomatic and subtly inflected of all. Indeed, I can't praise his performance too highly: sung with beautiful tone, superb diction and imaginative interpretive detail, it is a moving, masterful performance that fully deserves the bravos we hear at the end. This is a worthy addition to Huttenlocher's admirable Martin discography, which stretches from 1968 to 2000 (Golgotha, Et la vie l'emporta, In Terra Pax, Le Mystere de la Nativite). Excellent sound, with only a few odd noises between numbers to remind us that it's a live recording; full German, French and English texts. Not to be missed!

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

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