Liederkomponisten in Graz

A few months ago the director of the program here asked me if I could come up with something special to celebrate the 40th anniversary year of AIMS in Graz. Short of conjuring up the spirit of Hugo Wolf in a séance, I couldn't think of anything. But one day it hit me that I already had a ready-made program. During my two previous summers here I learned some of Graz's musical history and had accumulated a few stories of visits to this city by various composers. With a bit of research in the library I was able to piece together a lecture/recital program of stories of various composers in Graz interspersed with songs they wrote about the times of their respective visits. The lecture part practically wrote itself. When I got here this summer I just needed to find the best singers I could to participate on the program -- and the ones I asked all did so eagerly. I lucked out with engaging some of the finest Lieder singers here. The recital took place last Monday, July the 26th in the Pfarrsaal Sankt Leonhard. Here is the musical portion of the lecture/recital:

“Der Lindenbaum” Franz Schubert (from Die Winterreise), “In Waldeseinsamkeit” and “Vergebliches Ständchen” Johannes Brahms, “Freundliche Vision” and “Kling!” Richard Strauss, “Oft denk’ ich, sie sind ausgegangen!” Mahler (from the Kindertotenlieder), “Nacht” Alban Berg“ (from the Sieben Frühe Lieder) and "Durch Einsamkeiten” by Josef Marx.

The last song was written by a composer who was actually born in Graz. I had some misgivings about including that piece in the program, but was glad I did. It is written for Mezzo-soprano, viola and piano. It was exotic and lush and virtually nobody had ever heard this song before. I was fortunate to enlist the help of a fine young violist from the AIMS orchestra (who is actually an American living in Graz full-time). The concert hall was nearly filled and the program was very enthusiastically received. I also went to the trouble of printing out texts and translations, something that is ordinarily not done here. I wondered if there was perhaps too much talking on my part, and if the program was perhaps a bit too high falutin' in tone. But everyone said later that it was just right, very interesting and entertaining. Not to sound immodest, but I think this was the classiest program presented here all summer. It was a lot of work to get it all organized, but it was a great experience for me to do it.