ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY (1871-1942): Der Kreidekreis, Op. 21.

Description: Zemlinsky's last completed opera, premiered in 1934, is set in 14th century China and, unlike his previous work, is quite topical not only in its focus on social order and morality with clearly cut oppositions between good and evil and rich vs. poor but also in its jazz associations and combination of song, spoken dialogue and melodrama - in fact, not a far reach from the Brechtian social dramas of the period. 2 CDs. No libretto. Renate Behle (soprano), Gabriele Schreckenbach (contralto), Siegfried Lorenz, Roland Hermann (baritones), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Stefan Soltesz. Original 1991 release.