After his move to Moscow in 1943, Weinberg had to face widespread anti-Semitism, both among the population and on the part of politicians. Perhaps for this very reason, he composed the opera Congratulations! Especially for the discerning entertainment and edification of the Jewish community in Moscow in the mid-1970s. It is a work full of Jewish topoi that at the same time disguises itself as being Socialist (here, the 'rich people' are clearly identified as the enemies and suppressors, and they must be disempowered) - probably because there would otherwise not have been any chance of performing it in Russia. The original text for the opera, to which Weinberg himself made only few amendments, derives from the 'Jewish Mark Twain', from Sholem Aleichem (1859-1916). Today, we are familiar with Aleichem mainly from his short story Tevye the Dairyman, which later provided the material for the musical Fiddler on the Roof. The Kammerakademie Potsdam under Vlademir Stoupel performed the Version for Chamber ensemble by Henry Koch live from the Konzerthaus Berlin.

Tracklist:

Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 1 (Arr. H. Koch): Ach, Ihr Jahre, Meine Jahre, Wie Seid Ihr Zerronnen [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 2 (Arr. H. Koch): Guten Abend, Bejlja, Mein Täubchen [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 3 (Arr. H. Koch): Guten Tag, Ich Will Nicht Stör’n, Meine Liebe Bejlja [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 4 (Arr. H. Koch): Hab’ Geweint Drei Bäche Tränen [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 5 (Arr. H. Koch): Büchervorstellung [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 6 (Arr. H. Koch): Es War Einmal [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 7 (Arr. H. Koch): Wie Geht Es Weiter In Diesem Roman? [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act I Scene 8 (Arr. H. Koch): Er Hat Die Große Welt Verlacht [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 1 (Arr. H. Koch): Vorspiel [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 2 (Arr. H. Koch): Fradl Fradl [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 3 (Arr. H. Koch): Süßes Kätzchen, Mein [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II (Arr. H. Koch): Orchester-Zwischenspiel [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 4 (Arr. H. Koch): Gratuliere, Mein Schatz, Mein Liebster [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 5 (Arr. H. Koch): Zu Hause Waren Wir Zehn Jungen [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 6 (Arr. H. Koch): Verfluchtes Pack Elende Alles Unglück Über Euch [Live]
Wir Gratulieren!, Op. 111, Act II Scene 7 (Arr. H. Koch): Vielleicht Noch Dies, Dies Und Das [Live]

UPC: 4260034869905
Label: Oehms
Release Date: 9.4.20
Format: CD

Weinberg / Guedes / Stoupel - Wir Gratulieren (2 CD)