Esther

Description

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Kirill Karabits, and accompanied by an exceptional cast led by Corinne Winters in the title role, present the world premiere recording of the lost opera "Esther" by Thomas de Hartmann. "Esther" was written and composed often by candlelight during the Nazi occupation of Paris, as de Hartmann, a non-Jewish Ukrainian émigré, witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust. He perceived parallels between these events and the biblical story of Esther, as staged in the play by Jean Racine, from which he adapted the libretto. "Esther" is perhaps the only major musical work of the era composed as a direct artistic response to the Holocaust. Reviving this long-forgotten work represented a considerable undertaking, requiring an in-depth study of the composer's manuscript score and the preparation of a new modern edition. This work demanded a meticulous analysis of de Hartmann's orchestration and stylistic language. "Esther" is a singular work, on the border between opera and oratorio. Its dramatic momentum is carried by long monologues, choral commentaries, and a triumphant final ensemble. Richly orchestrated, it reflects the full scope of Thomas de Hartmann's artistic development: from his initial training in St. Petersburg, influenced by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Anton Arensky, and Sergei Taneyev, to his later periods in Munich and France, marked by his search for a deeply personal musical language. A major and ambitious work from his final period, "Esther" is the culmination of his eclectic and polystylistic approach, and a fascinating rediscovery for today's performers and listeners. This album is part of a series dedicated to Thomas de Hartmann, which aims to reintroduce the composer's music to a wider audience.