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“The young lady’s composition … surprised us in the most pleasant way … we consider Miss Kralik to be a genuine, original talent which … holds great promise for the future.” Eduard Hanslick; Neuen Freien Presse, April 19, 1878
In keeping with Delos’ emerging tradition of bringing the worthy music of unjustly neglected composers again to light, we offer here the premiere recording devoted to the vibrant and engaging art songs of Mathilde von Kralik (1857-1944): a most accomplished and appealing composer whose music is ripe for rediscovery. A prized student of Bruckner at the Vienna Conservatory (where she also met Mahler), she graduated first in her class in an era when women’s creative abilities were largely scorned. Also an accomplished pianist and singer, she went on to become a leading figure in Viennese artistic life.
Working very closely with her like-minded older brother Richard, she composed in multiple genres – setting more than 120 of his poems and texts in her distinctly late-romantic songs, choral works and operas; the bulk of the texts used in this collection are from him. In this recording, von Kralik has gained ardent champions in tenor Donald George and pianist Lucy Mauro. Their inspired performances will convince you that her meticulously crafted, highly original and startlingly beautiful music deserves to be ranked alongside that of much better known Lieder composers of her day, like Mahler and Hugo Wolf.
Mathilde von Kralik: Komm mit mir! (Come with me!)
Komm mit mir! (Come with me!)
Mathilde von Kralik: Hundertausend Liederkeime (One hundred thousand seeds of songs)
Hundertausend Liederkeime (One hundred thousand seeds of songs)
Mathilde von Kralik: Silbernebel (Silver Mist)
Silbernebel (Silver Mist)
Mathilde von Kralik: Flieder (Lilacs)
Flieder (Lilacs)
Mathilde von Kralik: Veilchen (Violets)
Veilchen (Violets)
Mathilde von Kralik: Himmelschlussel (Keys of Heaven)
Himmelschlussel (Keys of Heaven)
Mathilde von Kralik: Abends (Evenings)
Abends (Evenings)
Richard von Kralik: Gotter, Helden und Minne (Gods, Heroes and Courtly Love)
Gotter, Helden und Minne (Gods, Heroes and Courtly Love)
Mathilde von Kralik: Ein neuer Fruhling (A New Spring)
Ein neuer Fruhling (A New Spring)
Mathilde von Kralik: Spriesse, Seele! (Spring forth, Soul!)
Spriesse, Seele! (Spring forth, Soul!)
Mathilde von Kralik: Mein ganzes Sein (My Entire Being)
Mein ganzes Sein (My Entire Being)
Mathilde von Kralik: Und wieder bluht der helle Hag (And Again Blooms the Bright Meadow)
Und wieder bluht der helle Hag (And Again Blooms the Bright Meadow)
Richard von Kralik: Ubermut (High Spirits)
Ubermut (High Spirits)
Richard von Kralik: Im Prater (At the Prater)
Im Prater (At the Prater)
Mathilde von Kralik: Zauberrunen (Magic Runes)
Zauberrunen (Magic Runes)
Mathilde von Kralik: Lache, Kind! (Laugh, Child!)
Lache, Kind! (Laugh, Child!)
Mathilde von Kralik: Du bist mein (You are mine)
Du bist mein (You are mine)
Richard von Kralik: Ich bin nur ich (I am only me)
Ich bin nur ich (I am only me)
Richard von Kralik: Sage, Sonne, wo sie nun ist (Tell me sun, where she is now)
Sage, Sonne, wo sie nun ist (Tell me sun, where she is now)
Mathilde von Kralik: Fragezeichen (Question Mark)
Fragezeichen (Question Mark)
Mathilde von Kralik: Ein Traum (A Dream)
Ein Traum (A Dream)
Mathilde von Kralik: Im Grunen (In the Woods)
Im Grunen (In the Woods)
Mathilde von Kralik: Lied des Gefangenen (Song of the Prisoner)
Lied des Gefangenen (Song of the Prisoner)
Richard von Kralik: Nacht ist's (It is Night)
Nacht ist's (It is Night)
Mathilde von Kralik: Singet leiser o Cicaden! (Sing softly, O Cicadas)
Singet leiser o Cicaden! (Sing softly, O Cicadas)
Richard von Kralik: Blume und Weissblume (Flower and White Flower)
Blume und Weissblume (Flower and White Flower): Arie des Rekared (Aria of Rekared)