30th June

Concert will begin at 03:00 hours GMT

Schönberg's 'Gurre-Lieder' with O'Neill, Merbeth, Humble, Vemic, Goodwin and Fyfe from Sydney

Schönberg's 'Gurre-Lieder' is a massive cantata for five vocal soloists, narrator, chorus and large orchestra, composed by Arnold Schoenberg, on poems by the Danish novelist Jens Peter Jacobsen. The title means 'Songs of Gurre', referring to Gurre Castle in Denmark, scene of the medieval love-tragedy (related in Jacobsen's poems) revolving around the Danish national legend of the love of the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag (Valdemar IV, 1320-1375, spelt Waldemar by Schoenberg) for his mistress Tove, and her subsequent murder by Valdemar's jealous Queen Helvig (a legend which is historically more likely connected with his ancestor Valdemar I).

Performers: Simon O'Neill: Waldemar. Ricarda Merbeth: Tove. Deborah Humble: Waldtaube (Wood Dove). Sava Vemic: Peasant. Andrew Goodwin: Klaus-Narr (Klaus the Fool). Warwick Fyfe, Speaker.

Musicians of the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM). Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Conductor: Simone Young.

Recorded 15-16 March.