Gunther Scharf

Petr Eben (1929-2007) is considered to be one of the Czech Republic‘s leading contemporary composers. His organ compositions explore new territory in regard to playing techniques, sound and subject matter. His goal is to convey a message to listeners, e.g. through commentaries or – as in his Second Organ Concerto – by prefixing his scores with a motto. Formal clarity and understandability are a „must“ for him. His music is characterized by free tonality that always includes tonal sections. Gunther Rost was able to win two prominent guest musicians for this CD: Tine Ting Helseth (trumpet) and Babette Haag (percussion).

Following the successful album "Nicht Wiedersehen!", the internationally acclaimed bassist Günther Groissböck and one of the most distinguished pianists in his field, Malcolm Martineau, are now dedicating their new programme to the subject of love; under the title "Männerliebe und Leben" (Men's Love and Life), they explore love from a man's point of view - based on Schumann's well-known cycle "Frauenliebe und -leben" (Women's Love and Life). Beginning with what is probably the first song cycle in music history, "An die ferne Geliebte" by Ludwig van Beethoven, the well-rehearsed duo then present Schumann's "Dichterliebe". Three songs by Anton Bruckner ("Im April", "Herbstkummer" and "Mein Herz und deine Stimme") are preceded by other selected songs by Johannes Brahms, including "Wie bist du, meine Königin", "Unbewegte laue Luft", "Die Mainacht" and "Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen".

Following the successful album "Nicht Wiedersehen!", the internationally acclaimed bassist Günther Groissböck and one of the most distinguished pianists in his field, Malcolm Martineau, are now dedicating their new programme to the subject of love; under the title "Männerliebe und Leben" (Men's Love and Life), they explore love from a man's point of view - based on Schumann's well-known cycle "Frauenliebe und -leben" (Women's Love and Life). Beginning with what is probably the first song cycle in music history, "An die ferne Geliebte" by Ludwig van Beethoven, the well-rehearsed duo then present Schumann's "Dichterliebe". Three songs by Anton Bruckner ("Im April", "Herbstkummer" and "Mein Herz und deine Stimme") are preceded by other selected songs by Johannes Brahms, including "Wie bist du, meine Königin", "Unbewegte laue Luft", "Die Mainacht" and "Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen".