Braunfels Kwon, Wottrich, Kraus, Holzmair, Görne, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Deutsches SymphonieOrchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek - Die Vögel

luccy73

Review by luccy jim

Die Vögel by Braunfels: A Wild Ride Through Modern Opera Chaos Alright, let’s cut to the chase. Die Vögel (The Birds) isn’t your grandma’s opera—it’s Walter Braunfels going full throttle in 1996 with this Decca release. If you’re into classical music but don’t mind some modern twists that punch you right in the feels, this one’s worth a spin. The record brings together an all-star team: Lothar Zagrosek conducting like he’s got fire ants in his pants, Rundfunkchor Berlin singing their lungs out, and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin laying down orchestral layers so dense they could choke a horse. And yeah, there are moments where it feels like everyone involved just decided to lose their minds creatively—and honestly? That’s what makes it stick. Now, I gotta talk about two tracks here because holy crap, these ones slapped me upside the head and refused to leave my brain alone. First up is “Halt, Halt!” Man, this thing hits hard from the jump. It starts off with this eerie tension, like something bad’s about to go down—then BAM! The chorus explodes into chaos, screaming “Halt!” like they’re trying to stop a runaway train. Honestly, it’s wild how much raw emotion gets crammed into those few minutes. You feel like you’re witnessing the end of the world or maybe just someone having a really intense argument at 3 AM after too many drinks. Whatever it is, it grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Then there’s “Krieg! Krieg!”, which is basically just a war cry turned into music. This track screams fury, with the orchestra pounding away like hammers on steel while the vocalists belt out lines that sound like they’re summoning actual demons. By the time it finishes, you’re left breathless, wondering if anyone survived recording this beast. Seriously, who thought it was a good idea to put this kind of energy into an opera? Whoever did deserves a medal—or therapy. Probably both. Look, I’ll admit, not every moment of Die Vögel lands perfectly. Some parts drag a bit, and yeah, the whole thing can feel overwhelming if you’re not ready for its manic swings between beauty and madness. But damn if it doesn’t make you sit up and pay attention when it wants to. Credit goes to Braunfels for crafting such bizarre yet compelling material, and props to the crew behind this recording—they didn’t phone it in, that’s for sure. Here’s the kicker though: listening to this album feels less like attending a fancy concert and more like stumbling into some secret ritual deep in the woods. Like, picture yourself walking through foggy trees, hearing strange chants echo around you, unsure if you should run or join in. Weird flex, but okay—I’m into it. Final thought? Classical purists might hate this mess, but screw ‘em. Sometimes art needs to be messy, loud, and unapologetically weird to mean anything. So crank Die Vögel, blast "Krieg! Krieg!" through your speakers, and watch as your neighbors either call the cops or start banging pots and pans along with you. Either way, Braunfels wins. Rating: 8/10 – Not perfect, but unforgettable as hell.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: braunfels-kwon-wottrich-kraus-holzmair-grne-rundfunkchor.zip
  • MP3 size: 116 mb
  • FLAC size: 1281.8 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Gruh! Gruh!7:14
Horch! Es Wehet Der Tag Heran, Ich Gehe Zu Ruhn!5:08
Ah! Ah!5:11
Liebwerte Freunde3:37
Vorspiel (Langsam Und Zart)4:26
Zu Großen Taten Wie Noch Seit Weltbestehn4:38
Ah, Ah! Narzissus, Zitterst Du Im Licht?9:18
Ich Leih' Dir Meinen Sinn!5:48
So Ist Dies Alles Denn Gewesen, Wie?6:51
Himmel, Himmel, Weh', O Wehe, Himmel, Jetzt Ergeht's Uns Übel!1:23
Habt, Kindlein, Vom Prometheus Ihr Gehört?8:40
Wer Ruft? Wer Ruft?8:09
Zum Kuckuck, Freund, Das War Ein Spaß3:22
Tu Auf Den Wald, Ich Will Hinaus!5:25
Graden Weges Meinst Du, Wo Die Bäume Stehn?4:26
Wer Ist Denn Da? Ruft Jemand Hier Nach Meinem Herrn?4:10
Haltet Ein, Verruchtes Vogelzeug3:15
Laß Wie Du Mich Werden4:32
Weit! Weit! Wohl Über Euch6:16
Hoch Steht, Erhaben, Was Uns Freut, Unsere Veste, Nichts Ihr Gleicht2:25
Krieg! Krieg!2:46
Hei! Hei! Hi!4:43
Nun Erwache Mir, Freundin4:09
Was Nahet Dort Für Ein Froh Gewoge?4:34
Torotix!2:56
Dich Zu Ehren Wohl Erbötig2:38
Ach, Der Zeit, Wir Ziehen Fortan Nicht Zum Opfer Nach Delphi3:19
Wie Tut Ihr Vöglein Mir Leid5:50
Halt, Halt!3:20

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Catalog Numbers

448 679-2

Labels

Decca

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Formats

  • 2 × CD
  • Album

Companies

RoleCompany
Phonographic Copyright (p)The Decca Record Company Limited
Copyright (c)The Decca Record Company Limited
Recorded AtJesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin

Credits

RoleCredit
Art DirectionLucy Gowans
ChorusRundfunkchor Berlin
Chorus MasterGerd Müller-Lorenz
Composed ByWalter Braunfels
Libretto ByWalter Braunfels
ConductorLothar Zagrosek
DesignThe Partners
Edited ByNigel Gayler
EngineerAndrew Groves, Jonathan Stokes, Neil Hutchinson
Executive ProducerMichael Haas
Liner NotesMichael Haas
IllustrationPet Halmen
OrchestraDeutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
OtherThomas Gayda
ProducerMichael Woolcock, Morten Winding
VocalsIris Vermillion

Notes

  • On back cover: Praised by Bruno Walter as 'a noble and lovely work', Braunfels's opera Die Vögel is a radiantly beautiful synthesis of Wagner, Humperdinck and Richard Strauss. In his Memoirs Bruno Walter further commented: 'In 1920 I directed one of the most interesting new works to appear while I was working in Munich, W. Braunfels's The Birds: anyone who has heard Karl Erb's (Hoffegut's) song of human longing and the consoling voice of Maria Ivogün's Nightingale, anyone who has been amused by the grotesque scenes in the work and moved by its romantic elements, will think back in gratitude to this inspired and intelligent operatic metamorphosis of Aristophanes' comedy.'
  • Recording location: Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin Dahlem, December 1994; world premiere recording
  • Co-production with DeutschlandRadio and ROC GmbH
  • ℗ © 1996 The Decca Record Company Limited, London
  • Jewelcase comes in a cardboard slipcase that also includes a 152-page booklet with liner notes and full libretto

Barcodes

  • Barcode: 028944867923
  • Label Code: LC 0171
  • Distribution Code: PY 927
  • SPARS Code: DDD
  • Rights Society (Rights Societies): BIEM/MCPS
  • Other (Decca Suffix): DHO2
  • Other (CD 1 Catalog#): 448 680-2
  • Other (CD 2 Catalog#): 448 681-2

About Braunfels Kwon, Wottrich, Kraus, Holzmair, Görne, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Deutsches SymphonieOrchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek

German composer and pianist, born 19 December 1882 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, died 19 March 1954 in Cologne, Germany.

Name Vars

  • Braunfels

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that the opera *Die Vögel* by Walter Braunfels, released in 1996 on the Decca label, blends modern classical music with ancient Greek myth? It tells a story inspired by Aristophanes’ play *The Birds*, where two men leave society to build a utopia in the sky. The album features an incredible lineup, including the Rundfunkchor Berlin and Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, conducted by Lothar Zagrosek. Fun detail: the chorus master, Gerd Müller-Lorenz, played a key role in bringing the bird-like choral sounds to life—imagine singers mimicking chirps and calls! The recording itself was a team effort, with engineers like Andrew Groves and Jonathan Stokes ensuring every note soared. If you’re into operatic drama mixed with quirky, mythical vibes, this one’s worth checking out.