Kindertotenlieder

Although much of the repertoire on this disc was originally conceived for large orchestra, the chamber versions offered here shed new light on familiar territory. In 1918, Arnold Schoenberg founded his Verein fur musikalische Privatauffuhrungen (Society for Private Musical Performance), whose mission was to promote contemporary works. A great admirer of Mahler, Schoenberg created a chamber version of the Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen for the Society, while his student Erwin Stein penned a reduction of Busoni's Berceuse diagiaque. Reiner Riehn, who completed Schoenberg's chamber version of Das Lied von der Erde, wrote this arrangement of Mahler's Kindertotenlieder for chamber orchestra. The disc is completed by Mahler's rarely heard Quartettsatz for piano and string quartet. Contralto Sara Mingardo is accompanied by Musica Aurei conducted by Luigi Piovano.