Zemlinsky: The Mermaid, Sinfonietta

New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, James Judd

“Zemlinsky's symphonic fantasy Die Seejungfrau… is one of the most sumptuously scored orchestral pieces of the early 20th century. James Judd… galvanises the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra into playing this challenging score with sensitivity and a good deal of virtuosity.” --BBC Music Magazine, October 2009 ****

“Seejungfrau is crammed with ravishing, expansive melodies and lush, aqueous harmonies and, as the New Zealand Symphony performance shows, it's a mystery why it is not an established repertory work” --The Guardian, 31st July 2009 ****

“Zemlinsky’s symphonic fantasy may have fewer take-home tunes than Disney’s The Little Mermaid, but you can’t fault its opulent sweep, lively imagination, or inventive scoring.” --The Times, 11th July 2009 ***

Zemlinsky: Cello Sonata, Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano

Another attractive collection to demonstrate the melodic immediacy of Zemlinsky’s appeals. The Clarinet Trio is lusciously fluent; the Cello Sonata is passionate and lyrical by turns, with a lonely, meditative central Andante. The Three Pieces for Cello and Piano (Humoreske Lied, and Tarantell) are as diverting, varied and attractive as one would expect from this very winning composer. The performances are first rate and the recording has fine immediacy and excellent balance. --Penguin Guide ***

Pianist Hinterhuber strikes me as the driving force in all three performances; he has a fine feeling for Zemlinsky, striding along where his fellow artists are merely playing the notes. Müller and Ottensamer are equally fine musicians, but are more reticent; I do not sense a real feeling for the music at hand. 

The recorded sound may exaggerate the differences; it is pleasant enough but not carefully balanced, allowing the piano to take advantage of its inherent power, at times swamping the cello and the clarinet…Naxos disc is recommended to Zemlinsky fanciers as a look back into his early years of composition. --Fanfare, September 2008