Pfitzner: Das Christelflein

On this CD:

1. Das Christ-Elflein, opera, Op 20
Composed by Hans Pfitzner
Performed by Claes-Haakan Ahnsjo, Helen Donath, Ferry Gruber, Paul Hansen, Nikolaus Hillebrand, Alexander Malta, Janet Perry, Raimund Grumbach
Conducted by Kurt Eichhorn

Tracks:

Ouverture
Zwischentext
I. Sie Schlafen Alle, Weit Und Breit!
Zwischentext
II. Krank? O Weh! Was Mag Das Sein?
Zwischentext
III. Ich Schreite Durch Den Schnee Einher
Zwischentext
IV. Du Holdes Puppengesicht
Zwischentext
V. Nun Woll'n Wir Einmanl Seh'n
Zwischentext
VI. Tannenjunker!/Beifall Geblendet

Tracks:

Einleitung
Zwischentext
VII. Wo Ist Der Baum?
VIII. Melodram: Du Bist Der Frieder
IX. O Komm' In Uns're Mitte
Zwischentext
X. Als Christ, Der Herr, Verklaret War
Zwischentext/XI. (Instrumental)
XII. Bei Wem Das Christkindchen Heut' Kehrt Ein
Zwischentext
XIII. Christkindchen Tut Lauten
Zwischentext
XIV. Alle Englein Freuen Sich

Customer Reviews:

Not For Everyone, but Beautifully Performed.......2005-12-14

There are several things militating against this lovely recording of Hans Pfitzner's Christmas fairy-tale opera, Das Christelflein. There is a previous recording with Helen Donath and Claes Ahnsjo that is presented better, complete with libretto, which is missing from this issue. That recording is out of print but can be found with a little persistence. Further, the story of the opera is an awkward mishmash of German nature worship and Christian observance of Christmas as both a religious and a family holiday. And, finally, there is more than a whiff of German nationalism that makes the opera a bit difficult to export to other countries.

On the plus side, though, is the marvelous musical performance on this 2CD set. Claus Peter Flor leads the Munich Radio Orchestra, the Tölzer Knabenchor, and a cast of virtually unknown but musically excellent singers in a sparkling performance. There is a fairly detailed synopsis included in the booklet, but a libretto would have been a much better solution for those who don't understand German. Even more, there is considerable narration (and, at one point, melodrama [spoken text over a musical passage]), in German, between the musical numbers, done beautifully by Andrea Sokol, but of course it is so much gibberish for non-German-speaking listeners.

The music is rather along the lines of Humperdinck's Hänsel and Gretel in the use of Wagnerian harmonies and leitmotivs and like Humperdinck Pfitzner includes what sounds like folk-music. In fact the composer cleverly includes an altered quotation of 'O Tannenbaum' at a moment when one of the main characters, The Old Fir Tree, rallies the other trees in the forest to resist being cut down for use as Christmas trees.

The plot is rather mawkish with such things as a dying girl, Trautchen, being cured by the Christ Child, the Christmas Elf getting an immortal soul in Heaven and being allowed to return to Earth every Christmas and, further straining credibility in a sop to German nature worship, all the Christmas trees being granted eternal life by ascending into Heaven after they are cut down for the holiday.

This is terrific Pfitzner music, though, and indeed the ten-minute overture, the children's hymn and the angelic choruses are real treasures. One can, of course, program one's CD player so that it plays only the musical passages, which are really quite gorgeous. But that seems rather a shame as one misses much of what is going on.

2 CDs; TT=96:20

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

A delightful rarity available at last!

Pfitzner: Das Christelflein

Manufacturer: Orfeo D'or
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B000056UY9
Release Date: 2001-01-23

Customer Reviews:

A delightful rarity available at last!.......2001-03-08

Hans Pfitzner is known mostly for his impressive early 20th century opera, PALESTRINA, his cantata Von Deutsche Seele, and his songs. The release by Orfeo d'Or of his lighter, "Christmas" opera, DAS CHRISTELFLEIN, reveals another, very lyrical and rustic side of this composer. Those who can remember will recall that the old "private" LP label MRF once released this performance (which dates from the 1970s)in stereo in a beautifully illustrated box, complete with German/English libretto. The Orfeo release does not include a libretto, but does include a plot summary and some intereresting data about Pfitzner and the work--"the Christmas Elf."

DAS CHRISTEFLEIN was written in 1917, in the middle of World War I. But the opera is anything but dark or turgid. Pfitzner has considerably lightened his orchestration here; the textures are clean and bright, even incorporating German folk tunes. At times it seems that one is listening to a HANSEL UND GRETEL sound-alike--but I actually prefer it to H & G.

The vocalism is of a high order, with Helen Donath and Claes Ahjnso as standouts. The sound is very good. Highly recommended.

Composers in Person-Hans Pfitzner: Das Christelflein Op. 20/Prelude Palestrina
Average customer rating:
Composers in Person-Hans Pfitzner: Das Christelflein Op. 20/Prelude Palestrina
Hans Pfitzner , and Gerhard Husch
Manufacturer: EMI/Angel/Virgin/Imports
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005GL9
Release Date: 1996-11-26