Album insights
Hans Pfitzner, born in Moscow in 1869, moved to Frankfurt in 1872 where his father became an orchestra violinist and music director. Studying piano with James Kwast and composition with Iwan Knorr at the Hoch's Conservatory in Frankfurt, Pfitzner later started his career in Mainz. He took a job at Stern's Conservatory in Berlin and eloped to England with Mimi Kwast, marrying her in 1899 in Canterbury. His opera "Die Rose vom Liebesgarten" premiered in Elberfeld in 1901 and was later replayed in Vienna under Mahler's baton. Pfitzner composed music for the Christmas play "Das Christ-Elflein," which evolved into an opera and premiered in Dresden in 1917. His acclaimed work "Palestrina" debuted at the Munich Prinzregententheater in 1917. Filled with bitterness later in life, Pfitzner believed modern music was detrimental to authentic German music, a sentiment he expressed in his 1920 book, "The New Aesthetics of Musical Impotence."
Amid a challenging period following World War I, Pfitzner's renowned Piano Concerto op. 31 emerged as a significant orchestral piece, featuring elements reminiscent of Brahms and modern compositions. Premiered in Dresden in 1923, the concerto gained both critical acclaim and financial rewards. Renowned musicians hailed Pfitzner's adeptness, with Joseph Goebbels admiring his conservative approach to music. Despite hoping to find favor with the National Socialists, Pfitzner's career took a downward turn in the 1930s. The rise of the Nazis had a significant impact, leading to twists in the dedication of his Piano Concerto and strained relationships with contemporaries like Richard Strauss.
Walter Braunfels, born in Frankfurt in 1882, pursued musical studies like Pfitzner and excelled in both piano and composition. Achieving acclaim with his opera "Die Vögel" and other orchestral works, Braunfels found success in collaboration with prominent conductors, including Bruno Walter. Despite facing challenges during the Nazi regime due to his Jewish heritage, Braunfels maintained artistic connections with figures like Walter. Notable among his compositions was the richly textured "Day and Night Pieces," brought to life in 2017 after years of dormancy, showcasing Braunfels' intricate blend of late romanticism and modern harmonies. His dedication to musical craft and orchestral nuance pervaded his works, leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of classical music.