A Fin-De-Siècle Little Mermaid

Zemlinsky was a child of fin-de-siècle Vienna, who for decades has been
overshadowed by colleagues such as Gustav Mahler – the man who married Alma, the woman
Zemlinsky also loved – and Arnold Schoenberg – the man who would later become his brother-inlaw. In recent times, Zemlinsky is finally gaining the recognition he deserves. The same applies to
his symphonic poem Die Seejungfrau, based on Andersen’s Little Mermaid story. Zemlinsky
withdrew the score after its premiere in 1905; the three movements were first reunited in the 1980s
thanks to scholars, after which the piece could start its second life. Die Seejungfrau seems inspired
by Zemlinsky’s love in vain for Alma, clothed in cinematic fin-de-siècle music with Debussy-like
evocations of the sea.

This new recording marks the final PENTATONE album of Marc Albrecht as chief conductor of the
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra. It is their sixth collective PENTATONE recording, and
underlines their proficiency in German late-Romantic repertoire. Previously, they have released
Richard Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben/Burleske (2018), Mahler Song Cycles (2017),
Brahms/Schoenberg (2015), Mahler’s Fourth Symphony (2015) and his song cycle Das Lied von der
Erde (2013).

Alexander Zemslinsky: Die Seejungfrau

Marc Albrecht, conductor

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra

Release: 26. Juni 2020 on PENTATONE

Photo © Melle Meivogel