Carl Martin Reinthaler (1822-1896)
6 lieder, op. 10
6 lieder, op. 17
6 lieder, op. 22
3 ballades, op. 24
4 lieder, op. 36
6 lieder, op. 48

Peter Schöne, baryton
Günther Albers, piano

Carl Reinthaler published his first songs during the late 1840s. It was in Italy that he wrote his Songs op. 6 to Italian poems. In 1857 he moved from Cologne to Bremen, where he became the cathedral organist. This post and his appointment as the city’s music director shortly thereafter not only brought him security but also caused fresh new currents to flow through his manifold new duties, which included conducting tasks with the Singacademie and Liedertafel and the organization of private concerts. Reinthaler also gave voice lessons. His active life also energized his song production as a composer. During his initial Bremen years he composed the cycle of Six Songs op. 10 heard at the beginning of this CD, dedicating them to the Liedertafel. The following song cycles are also distinguished by great mastery and expertise. For each poem Reinthaler finds the appropriate tone and in the accompaniment draws on the characteristic elements of the texts – even though the poets selected by him range over a broad spectrum. His songs are of great intensity but also strike what is often a strangely familiar and almost simple tone. Reinthaler’s great wealth of melodic invention is impressive. The many years of productive cooperation between Peter Schöne and Günther Albers reach a high point on the present recording.