Around 1902 Leo Blech nabbed the subject of the "original romantic-comic magic" play by Viennese theater manager/actor/playwright Ferdinand Raimund, had it streamlined, and turned it into his fifth opera. A cantankerous misanthrope terrorizes family and servants with his paranoid mistrust. He's only cured when faced with his own behavior courtesy of supernatural role reversal. Highbrow opera meets folksy farce with unexpectedly gorgeous, splendidly orchestrated music somewhere between Wagner and Humperdinck. The premiere at the Dresden Court Theater was a sensational success. Then all of Blech's music was banned and once the Nazi horror was over, it never came back. Now you can hear what we missed.

Tracklist:

The Alpine King And The Misanthrope: Prelude I
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 1: So Viel' Blumen Blüh'n An Der Wiese Saum
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 2: Hans, Mein Hans!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 3: Der Freudensturm Hat Etwas Abgenommen
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 4: Wer Kann Ihm Seine Freiheit Rauben?
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 5: Nein, Das Ist Nicht Auszuhalten
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 6: Habakuk! Habakuk!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 7: Holla! Der Herr!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 8: Lieber Mann! Hei! Gut Dass Ich Dich Find!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 9: Jetzt Zeigt Sie Doch Ihr Wahr' Gesicht
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act I, Scene 10: Da Sitzt Er Mit Gesträubtem Haar
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope: Prelude II
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act II, Scene 1: Morgen Ist Sankt Kilian
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act II, Scene 2: Holla! Da Geht's Lustig Her!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act II, Scene 3: Sei Mir Gegrüßt, Stille Der Einsamkeit
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act II, Scene 4: Du Riefst Um Hilfe, Sie Ist Dir Nah
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope: Prelude III
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 1: Schön Sind Rosen Und Jasmin
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 2: Die Stimmung Scheint Hier Recht Konträr
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 3: O Brächt Er Uns Gottes Hilf Und Segen
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 4: Wie Ist Mir Denn?
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 5: Nur Herein, Du Notenschmierer!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 6: Das Ist Ja Ein Entsetzlicher Geselle!
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 7: Soll Es Also Sein?
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, Act III, Scene 8: Ertapp Ich Euch? Verdammtes Pack
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, 2 Military Marches, Op. 21: No. 1, Einmarsch
The Alpine King And The Misanthrope, 2 Military Marches, Op. 21: No. 2, Ausmarsch

UPC: 845221054780
Label: Capriccio
Release Date: 9.2.22
Format: CD

Blech / Collett / Hwang - Alpine King & Misanthrope (2pk) (2 CD)