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.
