Wagner's Nightmare, by Daniel Orsen, Pierre-Nicolas Colombat

Wagner's Nightmare

by Daniel Orsen, Pierre-Nicolas Colombat

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1.	Hermann Ritter - Concert-Phantasie No. 1 for Viola Alta and Piano, Op. 35 (Arr. Orsen) 08:21	buy track
2.	Franz Liszt - Romance Oublieé for Viola Alta and Piano, S. 527 (Regular Viola) 04:55	buy track
3.	Richard Wagner - Lied an den Abendstern, WWV 70 (Arr. Ritter/Orsen, Viola Alta) 04:54	buy track
4.	Richard Wagner - Preisleid from Der Meistersinger, WWV 96 (Arr. Seybold/Orsen/Colombat) 04:35	buy track
5.	Friedrich Nietzsche - Aus Der Jugendzeit (Arr. Orsen) 02:56	buy track
6.	Friedrich Nietzsche - Es Winkt Und Neigt Sich (Arr. Orsen) 01:48	buy track
7.	Erik Satie - Sports et Divertissement (Arr. Orsen/Colombat) 03:57	buy track
8.	Felix Mendelssohn - Viola Sonata in C Minor, MWV Q14: I. Allegro 07:36	buy track
9.	Felix Mendelssohn - Viola Sonata in C Minor, MWV Q14: II. Scherzo 07:58	buy track
10.	Felix Mendelssohn - Viola Sonata in C Minor, MWV Q14: III. Thema Mit Variationen 15:32	buy track
11.	Richard Wagner - Träume, From Wesendonck Lieder WWV 91 (Arr. Primrose) 04:43	buy track
12.	Franz Liszt - Romance Oublieé for Viola Alta and Piano, S. 527 (Alternate Take on Viola Alta) 05:53	buy track

about

Wagner's Nightmare is an album of music for viola and piano which Wagner would not like. Every piece on the album is in some way connected to something or someone Wagner did not like.

Some programming choices were obvious; the Mendelssohn Viola Sonata (an underperformed gem) for instance, is emblematic of Wagner’s antisemitism and his particular disgust for Mendelssohn. Nietzsche’s songs, representative of his dramatic and significant falling out with Wagner, are an obvious enough choice - if one is aware of Nietzsche’s musical corpus!

A good portion of the album will be given over to music written for the Viola Alta (or Ritter Viola), the mega 19-inch viola designed by Hermann Ritter, which Wagner stipulated should replace the “regular” viola at Bayreuth. Viola Alta music was mostly written by Wagner’s lackeys and admirers, who composed in a sentimental, over-the-top German Romantic style that. It is music that, while not on the level of genius, fills a glaring hole in the viola repertoire and is absolutely delightful.

And guess what?! We got our hands on an authentic Viola Alta and used it to record two tracks on the album, making this a rare chance to hear the Viola Alta in action!

Of course, we will be performing music by Wagner himself - what could possibly displease him more than hearing his beloved masterworks defiled by the smutty tones of an instrument not even fit to be in his orchestra at Bayreuth?

Through this “music that Wagner' wouldn’t like,” we hope to ultimately tell a touching story about the context, character, and gifts of a perennially troubling and admirable artist.

credits

released April 19, 2024

Peter Atkinson, audio engineer

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about

Daniel Orsen Boston, Massachusetts

Practices scales daily. Arpeggios less often.

danielorsen.com

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