Magdalena Kožená en Malcolm Martineau met Janáček, Wolf en Dvořák

Magdalena Kožená and Malcolm Martineau

When Magdalena Kožená and Malcolm Martineau take the stage together, reviewers rightly speak of magical moments. Kožená's expressive mezzo-soprano blends seamlessly with Martineau's refined piano playing. The mezzo-soprano chooses her repertoire from the heart; her selection is often rooted in her Czech heritage—and this afternoon, too, she presents music from that rich musical soil: Janáček sounds raw and honest, Dvořák warm and lyrical. The Austrian Wolf contributes refined songs with great psychological insight. The musicians also choose Schönberg's Brettl-Lieder .

Janáček, Wolf and Dvořák

Richard Strauss began a song with the notes and later sought a poem to accompany it. Music first or text first? That question has occupied lovers of the vocal repertoire for centuries – and every composer had their own opinion on the matter. Janáček took a practical approach and noted down the speech patterns of unsuspecting passers-by on the street. For Hugo Wolf, the text was sacred; he composed several songs a day at a feverish pace. Melancholy resonates in many of Dvořák's songs. Despite their differences, all three depict human emotions with razor-sharp precision and together form a beautiful trio. Finally, the Brettl-Lieder by Schönberg are heard, eight lighthearted, humorous songs that transport the listener to the Viennese cabaret of around 1900.