PAUL VON KLENAU
Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornetts Christoph Rilke
Odense Symphony Orchestra
Bo Skovhus, barytone

Paul von Klenau, composer
Paul Mann, conductor

About
Although the great German poet Rainer Maria von Rilke was against musical settings of his poetry, he himself permitted Danish-born composer Paul von Klenau to set his grand poem Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Kornetts Christoph Rilke to music. Hearing the world premiere recording of this work, it is not hard to understand what made Rilke favour the young Klenau.

Paul von Klenau was very happy with his own work and wrote to his publisher: I am now working on the Cornet – it will be my best work. But very modern. Future music. In spite of Klenau’s own comments, we would say today that his evocative song cycle from 1918 has a strong Late Romantic taste to it, with its Mahlerian orchestration and the dramatic use of a baritone soloist, chorus and large-scale symphony orchestra.

As the ideal choice for the demanding solo part in Paul von Klenau's grand song sycle, Dacapo Records is pleased to present world famous Danish baritone Bo Skovhus for the first time in our catalogue

Reviews
PIZZICATO SUPERSONIC AWARD

Hypnotisch (...) Bo Skovhus verhilft Rilkes Sprache überzeugend zu musikalischem Leben
(* * * * * Fono Forum)

Klenau's work is inventive, superbly scored and very enjoyable (...) Bo Skovhus is the ideal choice of soloist. His mellow vocal quality and ability to express a wide range of different modes and styles of delivery within a short span of time enable him to be a highly effective narrator (...) A first-rate account.
(International Record Review)

Das Werk ist ein erschütterndes und musikalisch grossartiges Requiem ... Die Interpretation ist makellos und schlichtweg greifend.
(Pizzicato)

Quite a discovery.
(Musicweb International)

Bo Skovhus forløser den musikalske fortælling med både farve og raffinement ... med Odense Symfoniorkester i fin form står han i front for en flot orkesteroplevelse.
(Politiken)

Intet mindre end et mesterværk (...) En ren musikalsk rejse ind i underbevidstheden og drømmens rige
(* * * * * Klassisk)

Bo Skovhus synger overjordisk smukt og fortolker så dybt bevægende, at man er på grådens rand. Denne cd er en skønhedsåbenbaring, som ingen bør snyde sig for.
(High Fidelity)

Credits
Recorded at the Carl Nielsen Hall, Odense on 28-31 August, 1-2 and 4-6 September 2006

Recording producer: Henrik Sleiborg
Editing and mastering: Lars Christensen and Henrik Sleiborg
Assistant: Jens Langkilde

Liner notes: Michael Fjeldsøe
English translation: James Manley

Graphic design: Elevator, www.elevator-design.dk
Publisher: Universal Edition

Dacapo acknowledges, with gratitude, the financial support of Augustinus Fonden

This SACD has been recorded in cooperation with the Danish Broadcasting Cooperation