Rudi Stephan: Chamber Works and Songs Hinrich Alpers

• Rudi Stephan (1887 - 1915):
• 1 Groteske für Geige und Klavier 08:04
• 2 Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied, 6 Gedichte für Sopran und Klavier: I. Kythere 02:09
• 3 Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied, 6 Gedichte für Sopran und Klavier: II. Pantherlied 00:59
• 4 Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied, 6 Gedichte für Sopran und Klavier: III. Abendfriede 02:08
• 5 Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied, 6 Gedichte für Sopran und Klavier: IV. In Nachbars Garten 02:25
• 6 Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied, 6 Gedichte für Sopran und Klavier: V. Glück zu Zweien 02:12
• 7 Ich will dir singen ein Hohelied, 6 Gedichte für Sopran und Klavier: VI. Das Hohelied der Nacht 02:34
• 8 Waldnachmittag 03:10
• 9 Auf den Tod einer jungen Frau 02:10
• 10 Up de eensame Hallig 02:07
• 11 Zwei ernste Gesänge für Bariton und Klavier: I. Am Abend 01:21
• 12 Zwei ernste Gesänge für Bariton und Klavier: II. Memento vivere 03:52
• 13 Liebeszauber (Arr. für Bariton und 7 Saiteninstrumente) 11:31
• 14 Mitternacht 02:53
• 15 Weihnachtsgefühl 02:05
• 16 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: I. Sonntag 02:07
• 17 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: II. Pappel im Stahl 01:50
• 18 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: III. Dir 02:27
• 19 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: IV. Ein Neues 02:58
• 20 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: V. Im Einschlafen 04:44
• 21 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: VI. Abendlied 03:00
• 22 Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern: VII. Heimat 03:09
• 23 Musik für sieben Saiteninstrumente: I. Satz 15:02
• 24 Musik für sieben Saiteninstrumente: II. Nachspiel 09:14
• Total Runtime 01:34:11

Info for Rudi Stephan: Chamber Works and Songs

The rediscovery of an outstanding composer, Rudi Stephan, who was born in Worms in 1887 and who is now almost completely forgotten. But Stephan, who died in 1915 in the First World War, left a body of works that is definitely worth rediscovering.

The pianist Hinrich Alpers has spent more than fifteen years undertaking research in various archives and rediscovering large parts of Stephan’s output as a composer. Co-produced in association with Deutschlandradio, the whole of his chamber music has been recorded for the first time on CD. Included here are not only the "Groteske für Geige und Klavier" and the "Musik für sieben Saiteninstrumente" but also two song cycles, "Ich will Dir singen ein Hohelied" and "Zwei ernste Gesänge", as well as the „Sieben Lieder nach verschiedenen Dichtern“. These fascinating works dazzle us with their impressive beauty and exceptional maturity. Featuring a number of distinguished artists, including the well-known baritone Hanno Müller-Brachmann, the soprano Tehila Nini Goldstein, the Kuss Quartet, the violinist Agata Szymczewska, the double-bass player Nabil Shehata and the harpist Marie-Pierre Langlamet, the CD is being released to mark the 130th anniversary of Rudi Stephan’s birth (July 29th 2017).

Hinrich Alpers, piano
Hanno Müller-Brachmann, baritone
Tehila Nini Goldstein, soprano
Agata Szymczewska, violin
Marie-Pierre Langlamet, harp
Kuss Quartet

Hinrich Alpers
German pianist Hinrich Alpers, 1st Prize winner of the 3rd International Telekom Beethoven Competition in Bonn, Germany and Laureate of Canada’s Honens International Piano Competition, has truly been living up to the high expectations set by the critics’ appraisal. A young artist of astonishing maturity and versatility, his never-superficial playing is full of both youthful energy and sincerity, evident through his deep and all-encompassing musical understanding. He has appeared in recital, as soloist with orchestra and as partner in chamber music and Lieder collaborations on numerous festivals and events throughout Europe, America, Canada and many other countries, such as the Klavier-Festival Ruhr, Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Beethoven Easter Festival Warsaw, and Beethovenfest Bonn. Hinrich has played at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival as well as the Philharmonie Berlin and the Gasteig in Munich.

Hinrich’s repertoire comprises some of the cornerstones of piano music such as the complete Piano Sonatas and Concertos by Beethoven, and all five Piano Concertos by Rachmaninoff. He has given cyclical performances of the aforementioned, and also plays the complete piano works by both Schumann and Ravel. That said, he is a devoted performer of lesser known works and frequently plays the Second Viennese School (Schönberg – Berg – Webern), Szymanowski and the late works of Scriabin. He has often performed music by John Cage, including his monumental “Sonatas and Interludes” for prepared piano, played from memory.

Since being a teenager he has been an avid researcher and performer of works by Rudi Stephan, who tragically died at 28 in the First World War – a project which will be released on a SONY double album in 2017. His latest CD, comprising the complete works for solo piano by Maurice Ravel, has been released on the honens label in 2015 where his debut CD with works by Schumann had already been published in 2008.

In addition, in 2010 Hinrich founded his own annual festival and masterclass series, the “International Summer Academy Lüneburger Heide” in his hometown Uelzen, Germany, which brings together more than 30 young soloists from all over the world with renowned chamber music partners, pedagogues and an orchestra. In early 2017, he will expand the Academy into an all-year program of weekend classes, special lectures and performance opportunities. Since his youth, Hinrich has been studying with Bernd Goetzke in Hanover, Germany, and spent a year at The Juilliard School, New York City, in the studio of Jerome Lowenthal. Today he is on the faculties of both Universities in Berlin – the University of the Arts and Hanns Eisler School of Music.

Hinrich has been a Steinway Artist since 2007. Living in Berlin, he has a passion for nature and sciences, frequently involves himself in culinary pursuits and listens to everything from Renaissance choral music to 21st century Jazz.

Booklet for Rudi Stephan: Chamber Works and Songs