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Walther von Goethe: Lieder, Balladen und Leben on CD

The publication Der Seele Innerstes ward offenbar on Walther von Goethe brings together exclusively world premiere recordings with a comprehensive accompanying book (edited by Ulf Bastlein and Ariane Ludwig). The compositions of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's eldest, almost completely forgotten grandson are characterised by a wide stylistic range: from delicate 'miniatures en musique' through sarcastic and ironic scenes to sweeping ballads.

A pupil of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Carl Loewe, he set to music, amongst other things, texts by his grandfather, by Heinrich Heine, by poets largely unknown today, and also his own poems. Compositionally, he forged his own, often experimental path. Central to his work is his aesthetic of inwardness. Some elements (harmonic breaks, surprising modulations) sound almost 'modern'. Goethe repeatedly explores the boundaries between sung melody and declamatory speech. As he conceives the song in terms of vocal melody, many of his songs are instantly memorable.

The performers are Ulf Bastlein (baritone) and Silke Evers (soprano). Their musical partners at the grand pianos - five historical instruments, including the Goethe family's Nannette Streicher grand piano - are Christoph Ritter and Hedayet Jonas Djeddikar. Contributions on biographical, musical and cultural-historical aspects were written by, amongst others, Ulf Bastlein, Dieter Borchmeyer, Jochen Golz, Peter Gülke, Christian Hain, Karsten Hein and Ariane Ludwig.