Eternal Road, the (Schwarz)

EDITORIAL REVIEWS
This world-premiere recording of scenes from Kurt Weill's rediscoverd masterpiece the Eternal Road brings to life a major 20th-century work that was a sensation of the 1937 New York season.

AMAZON
This is an extraordinary, unique work: part opera, part oratorio, part Broadway musical, part pageant. The German libretto by Franz Werfel (the original title actually means "The Road of Promise") was translated by Ludwig Lewisohn; the story combines Biblical and modern Jewish history, messianic faith, and national politics. Set in a contemporary synagogue where the Jews are hiding from a pogrom, its four acts are centered on specific Biblical themes, which the group discusses and re-enacts throughout the night; at the end, the destruction of the ancient Temple and the group's present-day deportation melt together, as a messianic voice promises deliverance in Zion. Conceived by the promoter and Zionist activist Meyer Weisgal to awaken the world to Hitler's persecution of the Jews by juxtaposing their historical and present travails, it was premiered in New York in 1937 to critical acclaim. But it closed after 153 performances, never to be revived. No wonder: described as "the most formidable project" ever undertaken by any "undaunted group" of Jewish artists, it required an unprecedented expenditure of personnel and material and, though heavily cut even before the premiere, ran for some six hours. Weill's music is fascinating. Alternating between cantorial liturgy, classical fugues and showtunes, it displays every aspect of his background and multi-faceted style. Son of a German cantor, his earliest works, written at age 12 and 13, were setting of Hebrew texts, but later in life, his Jewish consciousness seems to have been political rather than religious. Of all the European emigrée-composers, he was perhaps the most successful: master of operatic as well as cabaret-style, the Broadway musical became his natural habitat. This recording offers a selection of scenes featuring recitatives, arias, ensembles and choruses. The music ranges from simple to sophisticated, from mournful, cantorial lamentations to affecting love duets, hymns, marches with trumpets and drums, dances, celestial choruses, and genuine, lovely cabaret songs. The most substantial and moving excerpt is the Death of Moses, preceded by his presentation of the Commandments. The singing is never less than good, frequently excellent. The record makes one long to hear the music in its entirety. --Edith Eisler

REVIEW
".the performance is fervent and touching." -- New York Times

"This is a music that penetrates to the very core of Weill's being, and ours when we listen to it." -- Fanfare

"well-annotated, richly recorded set" -- Billboard

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1: Scene 6: Abraham and Isaac
2: Scene 7: Jacob and the Angel
3: Scene 8: Jacob and Rachel
4: Scene 16: The death of Jacob
5: Scene 17: In Egypt-Miriam and Moses
6: Scene 20: Moses receives the Commandments-Dance around the golden calf
7: Scene 21: The Beam, Moses
8: Scene 22: Moses addresses the people
9: Scene 23: Moses gives the Commandments - The death of Moses
10: Scene 24: Naomi and Ruth
11: Scene 24 (cont.): Ruth and Boaz
12: Scene 32: Isaiah and Jeremiah
13: Scene 33: The streets of Jerusalem
14: Scene 34: Jeremiah
15: Scene 35 & 36: Chananiah the false prophet-the mob attacks Jeremiah
16: Scene 40: Transformation-Finale

Composer: Kurt Weill

Number of Discs: 1

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