The Austrian-Jewish composer Erich Jacques Wolff (1874-1913), falling into oblivion after his untimely early death, is absent from both the New Grove and the Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart reference works. A fine craftsman, Wolff never ventured much beyond what Wagner had done in Tristan und Isolde. In the musical language of his Lieder, more than 150 in total, he owes a strong debt to the older Richard Strauss. American soprano Rebecca Broberg’s intensity and commitment to text fascinates audiences and critics alike. Her recordings include operas and songs of Siegfried Wagner and Ludwig Thiulle.
