Review: MusicWebInternational
CD 1
Heinrich Sutermeister
1 – 16 Die schwarze Spinne (opera i 1 akt)
Live transmission 23/9 1953
Ditlev Ludvig Rogert
17. The Danish Royal Anthem ’Kong Christian stod ved højen Mast’
Hans Ernst Krøyer
18. The Danish National Anthem ’Der er et yndigt land’
Ditlev Ludvig Rogert
19. The Danish Royal Anthem ’Kong Christian stod ved højen Mast’
Hans Ernst Krøyer
20. The Danish National Anthem ’Der er et yndigt land’
CD 2
Poul Schierbeck
Féte galante, Op.25
1. Overture
Emil Hartmann
Dyveke, Op. 45
2. I. Majfest
3. II. Narren
4. III. Bondedans
Live transmission 31/3 1956
Niels W. Gade
Elverskud (1854)
5. Morgensang
6. Finale
Live transmission 20/1 1949
Carl Nielsen
Maskarade (1906)
7. Hanedans
Edvard Brink
8. Hvis lille pige er du
Léon Bonnard (Jacob Gade)
9. Maggidudi
Emil Reesen
10. Vinens Gudinde
Lauritz Howalt
11. Jeg kan ikke la’ være
Harald De Bozi
12. Nicolas
Hugo Hirsch
13. To ad gangen
14. Jeg savner kun en lille kær veninde
Edvard Brink
15. En Københavner-Pige med Godda’
16. Tommelfinger i øjet
17. Til næste sommer
Friedrich Hollaender
18. Liliput
Die Schwarze Spinne @
Among the other recordings, Die schwarze Spinne (’The Black Spider’) is most notable, as one of the earliest radio operas broadcast on Danish radio. In 1951, the Radio began broadcasting on two separate channels, effectively doubling its output. The following years saw a commensurate increase in the quantity of opera broadcast in both live and pre-recorded performances – featuring both canon works and new pieces. Among the latter was the first opera written by the Swiss composer Heinrich Sutermeister. Dating from 1935, commissioned by Berne Radio and first broadcast by them in October the following year, the piece sets a short story of 1842 by the Swiss writer Jeremias Gotthelf.
Sutermeister had studied with Carl Orff in Munich, and one may feel his teacher’s influence on the 25-year-old composer’s handling of both texture and harmony. In Albert Rösler’s libretto, the plot is distilled to four characters: Christine, the Devil, the Priest and the Mother. Each of them has a recognizable leitmotifs: for Christine, an upward octave jump followed by falling semitones often performed by the bass clarinet. The Mother is accompanied by the string section, the Devil is often introduced by trumpet fanfares, while the Priest is accompanied by harmonium and trombones. The choir sings ’Gloria in excelsis Deo’ at the beginning and at the end of the opera, underlining the victory of good over evil.
RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 2025
CATALOGUE NUMBER: DACOCD 891
EAN: 5709499891001
