The tale of Hans Winterberg (1901-91) is a strange one. A survivor of the TerezÃn concentration camp, where he had been interned as a Czech Jew, he settled in Munich after the War as a German citizen, and his music enjoyed a number of broadcasts - but with his death his estate disappeared into a legal limbo, emerging only in 2015. This first album of his piano music reveals an unusual and individual voice, an idiosyncratic blend of JanÃ¡cek, Ravel, Schoenberg and other mid-twentieth-century masters, animated by a hard-edged, freewheeling energy and grim humour reminiscent of his close contemporary, Nikos Skalkottas. Brigitte Helbig, who grew up in Munich and also studied there, is one of Germany's livelier young pianists, with a respectable track record in the performance of new music.

Tracklist:

Klaviersonate No. 2: I. Agitato
Klaviersonate No. 2: II. Andante Sostenuto
Klaviersonate No. 2: III. Molto Vivace
4 Intermezzi: No. 1, Breit
4 Intermezzi: No. 2, Leicht, Flüchtig
4 Intermezzi: No. 3, Sehr Langsam, Verträumt
4 Intermezzi: No. 4, Wild, Heftig
Piano Suite "Theresienstadt 1945": I. Präludium
Piano Suite "Theresienstadt 1945": II. Intermezzo
Piano Suite "Theresienstadt 1945": III. Postludium
Piano Suite "1955": I. Vorspiel
Piano Suite "1955": II. Passacaglia
Piano Suite "1955": III. Marsch
Piano Suite "1955": IV. Bucólica
Piano Suite "1955": V. Toccata
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 1, Sehr Schnell, Leicht Fliessend
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 2, Malinconia, Molto Moderato
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 3, Sehr Bewegt
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 4, Vivacissimo
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 5, Impetuoso
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 6, Molto Movimento
7 Neo-Impressionist Pieces In 12-Tone: No. 7, Molto Vivace, Alla Toccata

UPC: 5060113445315
Label: Toccata
Release Date: 9.6.19
Format: CD

Winterberg / Helbig - Piano Music 1 (CD)